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After felting, it actually fits. Hm. I wish I’d shot the other side so you didn’t see the little row jog. Whoops.
I did a crap job of sewing down the liner–I couldn’t for the life of me keep track of the stitches with all those strands. I think next time, I’ll concentrate more on keeping it vertical than staying in line with the stitches. This is the least offensive portion, and you can still se the stupid shift. But since I wasn’t sure I’d even be able to get a reasonable human head size (and also, and formost, because I am LAZY), I didn’t want to start over.
Before any trickery, here’s how it fit:
Enormous, even though I only made 2 repeats of the pattern. So I opted to start with the (least invasive) dryer technique mentioned at the end of the pattern. The wet hat was even bigger, as to be expected. That’s meaningless, but it was funny, so I took a picture of that, too:
40 minutes in the dryer made it about a size smaller than the original dry size (so if you’re just a bit off, that should do the trick), and snugged up the pattern nicely, but it was still way too big.
So I just went for broke and hand-felted it by kneading in alternating hot and cold water until if fit my head with a little room to spare. Then I spun it out and carefully ran in through the dryer again, et voila!
Respectable fit for me (I can see!–which you can’t tell from my stupid camera angle), and a perfect fit for the intended wearer. It’s also snug as a bug in a rug!
Later I made a swatch of the alphabet I charted for my next project, and I had no problems getting gauge, even in pattern (both got the same gauge in flat single-color stockinette). My new swatch used Knit Picks Merino Style, so maybe I just need a bouncier yarn to get gauge. I’m guessing the spring helps compensate for my inexperience. I’m going to try again with some leftover Merino Style from another project. I weighed out out and I should have enough for a hat but there may be a sudden color change at the end. We’ll see.
I’m totally chicken about not binding off. Any practical advice? I was thinking of transfering all the stitches to waste yarn first so I wouldn’t be freaking out about them unraveling.
What did y’all do?
(I did make a giant hat, so I’ll be able to give my review of the dryer-shrinking method. Just as soon as I get the nerve to finish it.)
It’s HUGE. And I could tell it was way too big as soon as I got going (it turns out I knit WAY looser when I’m doing colorwork), but I figured, what the hell. I’ll either make it into a felted bag or bowl, or I’ll just decrease after the 2nd pattern repeat and try fulling it a bit so it’s not crazy huge. It looks gray in the pictures, but it’s actually more of a khaki. The second picture’s a little more accurate.
Here’s what it’s like flat. I’m using Plymouth Galway & Peruvian Highland whatever from elann.com. Yes, I know they’re worsted or near-worsted, but my swatch with the 3 needles was to gauge. Unfortunatley, my swatch was flat and not in pattern, because I’m a lazy dumbass. So I’ve learned I knit way looser in the round and on top of that, I knit way looser in colorwork.
Here’s the inside, if anyone can offer me any sage advice based on that. This is my first colorwork, and it seems okay–a little lumpy, but nothing that won’t block out. But I could well be missing something without realizing.
About a dozen people who asked to sign up by the deadline have not responded to their registration invites. You must be registered to be added to the knitalong.
The culprit may be your spam filter, or something else. Let’s cut out the middleman.
Go directly to wordpress.com and sign up (it honestly takes seconds), complete verification by clicking the link in the email you receive, then email me the address you used to register. Once you’re already registered, I can add you immediately.
If you’re using hotmail, you’ll need to use an alternate account, as WordPress won’t work with hotmail.
P.S. Gwen: I’ve been responding to your emails, but you’re apparently not getting my responses. Since I’m able to get your mail, follow the instructions above & you should be set.
This is a question for those who have knit these already: what brands of yarn/fibers have you used (other than the pattern yarn)?
I’m definitely using stash yarns (I’m on a massive yarn diet) and I have a few Knit Picks alpaca blends I’m considering. Will they be stretchy enough, or must I stick with 100% wool?
Sign-up for the We Call Them Pirates knitalong is now closed. If you already signed up (by commenting before January 15), but you’re not on the list, email me & I’ll look you up and resend your invite to join.
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Welcome to the We Call Them Pirates Knitalong! (And/or: Pirate Mittens.) You may also make something of your own design, but it must use a Pirates chart from the We Call Them Pirates pattern for the motif. Both patterns (in both English and French, even!), including the charts are available free at Hello Yarn (or use the handy sidebar links, or you know, the ones above, duh).
I thought starting a KAL would light a fire under my ass to knit the hat I’ve been coveting for so long.
Sign up by January 15, complete the hat or mittens by March 15. My inclination was to say February 15, so it would still be cold; but I figured that would be too strict. Plus, I’m going to have a really busy February. So March it is!
For motivation beyond the satisfaction of a job well done, I’ll have a fabulous prize drawing from the finishers. Hurrah!
To join, just comment below & I’ll add you as a user (If you’re already a WordPress.com user, be sure to use the same email below to skip the registration step; if you’re not already a WordPress.com user, you’ll get a WordPress registration invite & registration will automatically add you as a contributor). Then you can post your plans, progress & finished objects. Ta da!
And here are some buttons. Can you tell who’s procrastinating?
