This hat defies math. Or something.
I'm proud of my first stranded colorwork project. It really evened out after I blocked it. The problem is that it's waaaaayyy too small.
What really confuses me is that the gauge measures at 4 stitches per inch, what the pattern calls for, now that it's been blocked. (Actually, it's a little on the large side. The pattern calls for 16.5 stitches per four inches, or 4.125 stitches per inch.) But it seems to be toddler size, or child size. I thought I might be able to stretch it over my head if I pulled hard enough, but I didn't want to stretch it out of shape.
I just double checked the the pattern and it says the finished circumference is 15.5 inches unstretched. I measured the finished circumference at around 16 inches. (I tried to stretch it a lot when I blocked it.) Is this really an adult hat? The math adds up to a kids' hat. I know my head is a little on the big side, but the Craft Yarn Council considers the average adult woman to have a head that's about 20 inches in circumference. The pattern says snug fit, but four and a half inches of negative ease?
So I'm debating what to do with my tiny hat. Will it fit an adult? I have some kids on my Christmas list, but no toddlers. If all else fails, I'll probably donate it to the Dulaan Project or Afghans for Afghans. It's very warm.
To review, this is the Center Square hat from Knitty. I used Cascade 220 Superwash
in 801 Army Green and 819 Chocolate. It took less than one skein of each color. I knit it with 40" Addi Turbo Circular Knitting Needles
in US Size 4. (I used the Magic Loop Technique.)
The completion of this hat fulfills several goals. It's a Ravelympics entry in the Colorwork Cross Country, Hat Dash and Gift Knits Pentathlon events. It's also part of the Year Long Gift-A-Long Q3 Challenge as my "something new." Finally, it fulfills number 21 on 101 goals in 1,001 days list - knit a colorwork project.
I'm such a knitting geek.
3 comments:
That's goofy. Did you measure your gauge on a colorwork section? Sometimes those draw in (although yours looks fine, not too puckered). I'm surprised the finished circumference is only 15.5". I'd go with 17" with non-colorwork, because you want the negative ease, but 15.5" seems too little, esp. for less-stretchy fabric.
One of your posts said you used a 4. The pattern calls for doubling the yarn and using an 11. But your FO is bigger? I think she stranded extra loose. It looks more stretched out than I would want in the photo.
Sometimes things just don't work out inspite of our best intents. I once made a ski sweater for a medium male and although all swatches, counts, measurement before blocking were correct to within 1/8"-it didn't fit--didn't even come close! Rechecked size on pattern--medium youth. Don't give up on stranded work--make another--find a teddy at build a bear to fit the hat. Make another hat, enjoy yourself
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