Sally mentioned being in the mood to make hats, and I think there must be something in the air! I’ve been noticing a lot of cute hat patterns lately:
First, the recent Vogue Knitting (Hi, Trisha!) included a very nice array of hats. I decided to try Lace Beret #13:
I really liked the use of a Japanese-inspired lace pattern. I started out with pale gray Fresco from Classic Elite and loved the hat….but thought it might lack stitch definition. So, I started again with Blue Sky Alpacas Alpaca and Silk in a copper color:
The yarn is a little heavier than that called for, so I made the smaller size, with a slightly larger needle to yield a large beret. I got it done and then asked my knitting peeps which hat they preferred — they all said the gray one. So, I finished the gray one:
It has a softer look to it and is fuzzier. Honestly, I do not think I could choose between them. The gray hat is in a finer yarn (more like the pattern), so I knitted it to a smaller gauge. There are 9 pattern repeats in the gray and only 8 in the copper.
I absolutely love the Fresco yarn. I LOVE it!! So, I started another hat in Fresco…more about that in a day or so. With our knitting in slow mo, we can’t show everything in one day! Stay tuned for more hats!!
PS: when I have polled people with the finished hats, they are split pretty much 50-50 on which one they like best.
I felt some fingerless mitts made from Fresco — it feels like angora, so soft. I bet that hat will be lovely to wear.
Comment by kmkat — August 19, 2009 @ 10:15 pm
Both the gray and copper are beautiful. It probably depends on your mood, your outfit, and your coloring. Absolutely love this issue of Vogue Knitting, and loved the hat when I first saw it there (cover picture, right?) Will have to check out the Fresco yarn. Haven’t reached your level of expertise in knitting yet but hope to get there one day.
Comment by Libby — August 19, 2009 @ 10:34 pm
Yep, that hat is on my queue, too. And probably in gray!
Comment by twinsetellen — August 19, 2009 @ 10:59 pm
Wow, that copper one is gorgeous, and I love the pattern!
Comment by Leah — August 19, 2009 @ 11:40 pm
I’d pick the copper one but that’s just because you photographed on a blue background and rich brown and blue tones are exactly the sorts of color combo that I go bananas for.
They are both lovely and now I definitely have to knit that hat.
Comment by GinkgoKnits — August 20, 2009 @ 3:10 am
I love those hats! I am going out tomorrow to but the magazine. It looks great. I think both hats are fabulous, but the gray one is just a little more fabulous.
Comment by Joanna Ryn — August 20, 2009 @ 3:34 am
Hi! I have to vote for the gray too! They look beautiful!!!!
Comment by Trisha Malcolm — August 20, 2009 @ 7:33 am
I’m torn in two by both. The copper and the grey are colors are ones I wear frequently and your execution is spectacular! I agree this issue of Vogue has some real winners. In fact, we ordered twice our usual number of copies for the shop after having seen the samples at TNNA in June.
Comment by ChrisRKnits — August 20, 2009 @ 8:27 am
They are both beautiful!
Comment by Julie — August 20, 2009 @ 10:13 am
Hello from Burlington, Vermont. I like both hats, but I’d probably pick the grey for me.
Comment by surly — August 21, 2009 @ 12:10 am
Both lovely – but I’m a sucker for anything copper coloured so that would be my favourite.
Comment by Soo — August 21, 2009 @ 8:43 am
I like them both equally I think, but would wear the copper one as that would match my coloring best. But they are both beautiful!
Comment by C. — August 21, 2009 @ 10:57 am
I’m sort of a sucker for copper, so I’d pick that one. That said, they’re both just lovely. I want one. 🙂
Comment by Kym — August 21, 2009 @ 11:34 am
Beautiful. Lace beret #13 I like the most. I do not knit. Do you sell your hats?
Comment by colleen turcotte — February 24, 2010 @ 12:32 am