Tuesday, February 1, 2011

Hats, How I Loathe Thee

I finished the Green Bay Packer Hat. It is very nice. However, I am pretty sure it is too big.

What's up with that?

Hats are simple enough to knit. It just seems I can never get the size right no matter what I do. Usually, I start by being afraid I will make it too small, so I cast on too many stitches. (Check.) Then I knit the ribbing and realize, yes, it is too big. So I rip and cast on again, this time with less stitches. (Check.) Then it's too small, or still too big. Or, it's just right, but I think it might be too small so I rip and cast on again. (Check.)

Oh, will it never end???

I do love the instant gratification of knitting hats. They are usually done pretty fast. I started this one yesterday. But I always find them to be self-doubting projects. Sigh.

Well......the hat is done, but IT is big. I cast-on 80 stitches and increased to 88 after the ribbing (should have skipped this). 80 was friggin' p-l-e-n-t-y. I always, always forget that you need a certain amount of negative ease to keep a hat on (a guy). I also am very sure that I should have started the decreases sooner and that the depth of the hat is a little long. Oh well. I did not weave in the final end (even left the stitch marker in it.....now that I type that I am wondering WHY(????) I did that.....) so that I can rip it back and make it "shorter". But now I think I am going to have to make it "narrower" as well.

I suppose I won't know until my brother comes to try it on.

Oh? Did you want to see it? Here it is:
And for size comparison, my hand. Realize that I have a little of the top tucked under.
Maybe it will be just perfect. My brother could have a really huge head and I just don't know it.

4 comments:

Brendaknits said...

How about a couple of minutes in the washing machine?

MamaMidwife said...

Hmm.....that's not a bad idea. I have a front loader though, so I can't stop it easily. I wonder if I wet blocked it and then threw it in the dryer??

For now, I am on to the Steelers hat with my well thought-out size modifications. If it comes out OK, I may just frog and reknit.

Thanks for stopping by Brenda!! Love your blog!! Read it everyday (usually on my phone, so I can't leave comments, but I am a regular follower).

Anonymous said...

Hand felting is easier to control, and on such a little thing, you could do it quickly.
For what it is worth, I like it. Slouchy hats are in (or so my 15 yr old sis tells me. I wouldn't know. I am a 33 yr old homeschool mom). :)

MamaMidwife said...

If my brother were a 15 year old female, I think that would work, LOL!

But as such, he is a rather "picky" 28 year old male. I have yet to give him a knitted gift. I hope he likes it. (I decided to re-knit it.)