Tuesday, August 07, 2007

something fishy...


first I would like to quote brooklyntweed and say: "It's right about this time in August when I start losing all my patience with summer." I am so with him on that one. I do love the summer, and the flowers and the veggies and the sunshine and the...well, you get the point. but I think more so I love the fleeting days of autumn, when the air has a fresh crispness to it, and so does the light, instead of the flat glare of summer. I know soon enough if will be wet and windy, but early fall delights with sunny days where I can break out my "back-to-school-clothes" (oh that was a while ago) and fresh scarves, hats and mitts. here in fact is a perfect example of my fall dreams, although the weather seems to have misinterpreted and instead served us a grey and vaguely chilly day.
I've been trying to think up a name for this hat, something fishy but not just "pomatomus hat". obviously, the pattern is based on cookie a.'s timeless pomatomus socks, which I have already enjoyed in the mermaid gloves. somehow, I have never made the socks, but that's for another post. anyway, I thought it would make a great toque, and set out to prove that theory.

through a little trial and error, I think I came up with a winner. I cast on 144 stitches, exactly double of the sock pattern. I then followed the instructions for the twisted rib cuff (10 rows), and followed the leg instructions on for two full repeats (working chart A 12 times instead of six). when starting on the third repeat, I followed the instructions again, but only did the yarnover increases on every second set of 12 stitches, effectively decreasing the hat by 12 stitches every row. this means that at halfway through this set of 22 rows, there are only six "scales" instead of the original 12. I then continued decreasing without doing any yarnovers until I was down to six stitches. then i broke the yarn and wove it through to secure. knit on 2.5mm dpns using fleece artist sea wool in jester. love, love, love this wool - it feels awesome!
so....still without a name. am thinking the colours remind of a parrotfish (i know, they come in many many colours - just like yarn?) yeah, if you're interested, try out the parrotfish topper. it could make your autumn.

18 comments:

Anonymous said...

This is just an amazing hat! I'm so impressed with your ingenuity, and the beauty of the finished project! I just love how it comes out to a flower shape on top.

Terhi said...

What a gorgeous hat! The top of the hat looks really great. Clever! :-)

Cloudberry said...

It's beautiful! And the I had one more thing on my to do list ;)
Have a great weekend!

k said...

thanks for the good feedback from everyone. i think i'm going to make another one soon as it was a fun project.

Unknown said...

Brilliant! I made wristwarmers and may now have to make a hat to match!

The Sexy Knitter said...

Love it! Am SO adding this to my Ravelry queue - NOW!

Anonymous said...

What a great idea! I don't think I would have had the patience to figure this out, but I'm glad you did because I really really want to make a few of these!

Susana Minna said...

Tu blog es Hermoso, las fotos, los tejidos... MARAVILLOSO

CariƱos y un abrazo...

Susana Minna

Lindsay said...

I know this is an old post, but I have a question for you: What was the finished size/what size head did it fit? I'm thinking I'll have to add a repeat for a good fit. Thanks! :)

Unknown said...

Sooooo beautiful!!

Anonymous said...

wow, that is just beautiful. thank you for sharing.

gchc

zippiknits...sometimes said...

Truly a lovely hat! And thank you for sharing how it is made.

Elizabeth said...

I would really like to see a more detailed pattern. I understand the ribbing like the sock, and follow the pattern like the sock, but when you start the decrease for the hat and then from the breaking of the yarn, I'm lost. Would love to see it posted as a free download for Ravelry!

JMB said...

That is gorgeous!!!!!

Anonymous said...

If anyone works better with something written down instead of a chart (btw, the chart image wasn't working for me; had to hunt it down on Ravelry), here is the written pattern:

CO multiple of 12 depending on yarn, needles (for instance, if I were doing fingering + 5.0mm/US 8, I'd CO 96 or 108).
Work rib.

Parrotfish Pattern:
1. YO, K2T-tbl, P1, K1-tbl, P1, K1-tbl, P1, K1-tbl, P1, K1-tbl, P1, K1-tbl
2. YO, P1, K2T-tbl, K1-tbl, P1, K1-tbl, P1, K1-tbl, P1, K1-tbl, P1, K1-tbl
3. YO, K1-tbl, P1, K2T-tbl, P1, K1-tbl, P1, K1-tbl, P1, K1-tbl, P1, K1-tbl
4. YO, P1, K1-tbl, P1, K2T-tbl, K1-tbl, P1, K1-tbl, P1, K1-tbl, P1, K1-tbl
5. YO, K1-tbl, P1, K1-tbl, P1, K2T-tbl, P1, K1-tbl, P1, K1-tbl, P1, K1-tb
6. YO, P1, K1-tbl, P1, K1-tbl, P1, K2T-tbl, K1-tbl, P1, K1-tbl, P1, K1-tb
7. YO, K1-tbl, P1, K1-tbl, P1, K1-tbl, P1, K2T-tbl, P1, K1-tbl, P1, K1-tb
8. YO, P1, K1-tbl, P1, K1-tbl, P1, K1-tbl, P1, K2T-tbl, K1-tbl, P1, K1-tb
9. YO, K1-tbl, P1, K1-tbl, P1, K1-tbl, P1, K1-tbl, P1, K2T-tbl, P1, K1-tbl
10. YO, P1, K1-tbl, P1, K1-tbl, P1, K1-tbl, P1, K1-tbl, P1, K2T-tbl, K1-tbl
11. YO, K1-tbl, P1, K1-tbl, P1, K1-tbl, P1, K1-tbl, P1, K1-tbl, P1, K2T-tbl
12. K2T-tbl, P1, K1-tbl, P1, K1-tbl, P1, K1-tbl, P1, K1-tbl, P1, K1-tbl, YO
13. K2T-tbl, K1-tbl, P1, K1-tbl, P1, K1-tbl, P1, K1-tbl, P1, K1-tbl, YO, P1
14. K2T-tbl, P1, K1-tbl, P1, K1-tbl, P1, K1-tbl, P1, K1-tbl, YO, K1-tbl, P1
15. K2T-tbl, K1-tbl, P1, K1-tbl, P1, K1-tbl, P1, K1-tbl, YO, P1, K1-tbl, P1
16. K2T-tbl, P1, K1-tbl, P1, K1-tbl, P1, K1-tbl, YO, K1-tbl, P1, K1-tbl, P1
17. K2T-tbl, K1-tbl, P1, K1-tbl, P1, K1-tbl, YO, P1, K1-tbl, P1, K1-tbl, P1
18. K2T-tbl, P1, K1-tbl, P1, K1-tbl, YO, K1-tbl, P1, K1-tbl, P1, K1-tbl, P1
19. K2T-tbl, K1-tbl, P1, K1-tbl, YO, P1, K1-tbl, P1, K1-tbl, P1, K1-tbl, P1
20. K2T-tbl, P1, K1-tbl, YO, K1-tbl, P1, K1-tbl, P1, K1-tbl, P1, K1-tbl, P1
21. K2T-tbl, K1-tbl, YO, P1, K1-tbl, P1, K1-tbl, P1, K1-tbl, P1, K1-tbl, P1
22. K2T-tbl, YO, K1-tbl, P1, K1-tbl, P1, K1-tbl, P1, K1-tbl, P1, K1-tbl, P1

Work 2x. Begin crown decreases.

1. K2T-tbl, P1, K1-tbl, P1, K1-tbl, P1, K1-tbl, P1, K1-tbl, P1, K1-tbl
2. YO, P1, K2T-tbl, K1-tbl, P1, K1-tbl, P1, K1-tbl, P1, K1-tbl, P1, K1-tbl
3. K1-tbl, P1, K2T-tbl, P1, K1-tbl, P1, K1-tbl, P1, K1-tbl, P1, K1-tbl
4. YO, P1, K1-tbl, P1, K2T-tbl, K1-tbl, P1, K1-tbl, P1, K1-tbl, P1, K1-tbl
5. K1-tbl, P1, K1-tbl, P1, K2T-tbl, P1, K1-tbl, P1, K1-tbl, P1, K1-tb
6. YO, P1, K1-tbl, P1, K1-tbl, P1, K2T-tbl, K1-tbl, P1, K1-tbl, P1, K1-tb
7. K1-tbl, P1, K1-tbl, P1, K1-tbl, P1, K2T-tbl, P1, K1-tbl, P1, K1-tb
8. YO, P1, K1-tbl, P1, K1-tbl, P1, K1-tbl, P1, K2T-tbl, K1-tbl, P1, K1-tb
9. K1-tbl, P1, K1-tbl, P1, K1-tbl, P1, K1-tbl, P1, K2T-tbl, P1, K1-tbl
10. YO, P1, K1-tbl, P1, K1-tbl, P1, K1-tbl, P1, K1-tbl, P1, K2T-tbl, K1-tbl
11. K1-tbl, P1, K1-tbl, P1, K1-tbl, P1, K1-tbl, P1, K1-tbl, P1, K2T-tbl

No more YOs now!
12. K2T-tbl, P1, K1-tbl, P1, K1-tbl, P1, K1-tbl, P1, K1-tbl, P1, K1-tbl
13. K2T-tbl, K1-tbl, P1, K1-tbl, P1, K1-tbl, P1, K1-tbl, P1, K1-tbl, P1
14. K2T-tbl, P1, K1-tbl, P1, K1-tbl, P1, K1-tbl, P1, K1-tbl, K1-tbl, P1
15. K2T-tbl, K1-tbl, P1, K1-tbl, P1, K1-tbl, P1, K1-tbl, P1, K1-tbl, P1
16. K2T-tbl, P1, K1-tbl, P1, K1-tbl, P1, K1-tbl, K1-tbl, P1, K1-tbl, P1
17. K2T-tbl, K1-tbl, P1, K1-tbl, P1, K1-tbl, P1, K1-tbl, P1, K1-tbl, P1
18. K2T-tbl, P1, K1-tbl, P1, K1-tbl, K1-tbl, P1, K1-tbl, P1, K1-tbl, P1
19. K2T-tbl, K1-tbl, P1, K1-tbl, P1, K1-tbl, P1, K1-tbl, P1, K1-tbl, P1
20. K2T-tbl, P1, K1-tbl, K1-tbl, P1, K1-tbl, P1, K1-tbl, P1, K1-tbl, P1
21. K2T-tbl, K1-tbl, P1, K1-tbl, P1, K1-tbl, P1, K1-tbl, P1, K1-tbl, P1
22. K2T-tbl, K1-tbl, P1, K1-tbl, P1, K1-tbl, P1, K1-tbl, P1, K1-tbl, P1

Bind off.

Ta-dah!

I hope this helps. BTW, if you're doing what I plan on and that's using a larger needle and CO a multiple of 12 (108), then obviously you would bind off before then. For instance, for 108, you'd bind off after the 16th row of the crown decreases.

Anonymous said...

I am trying to do the decreases in this hat and the ktbl and purls are not ligning up for me for the start of the crown. I am going right from your written instructions. Any ideas?

Emilia said...

very nice hat, I am working on it right now, can't wait for the final result, thank you for posting the pattern

Emilia said...

hello, I am stuck, I am done with round 22 and then it says to repeat the chart A again, but when I go from 22 to again round 1 the stitches don't line up. I would have to do purls on knits. Pls advise! Thank you