343. There's More Than One Way to Fork a Biscuit* (A Hat Makeover)

The other day when I posted about the hat with the wonky cast-on, Jean commented something to the effect of, "Wonky is still warm."

Well, actually, I thought not so much.  I tried it on, and it didn't seem all that warm to me at all.  Soft, but not warm.  It is mostly acrylic, after all.  We had one damnably brutal cold snap yesterday, and it helped me to define what is warm and not warm.  I personally only had to move from building to car to building to car to building a few times, and even with all my wool layers, I could not get warm enough. 

So then I looked at the cast-on problems and wondered if I could do something to make that a little better, short of reknitting the whole hat.  I looked around the house and I found a couple little balls of handspun yarn I had left from my spinning days, and I found the skein of lovely handspun that Jean had given me as a gift a couple years ago.  An idea was born.  I carried the three thin strands together -- two of my handspun (one blue, one natural brown Jacob wool) and the lovely blues and purples of the skein Jean gave me, and it came to a bulky weight that was similar to the Thick & Quick.  I picked up stitches along the weird loopy cast-on edge of the hat, and I added a nice snug ribbed brim.  NOW the hat is warm and functional, and the ugly edge is camouflaged. 

Not only that, but the result is meaningful: It's a marriage of my handspun with Jean's, for her hat drive for the homeless.  Now, that's a happy hat.  Warm and cozy against the ears, and soft against the head.

Hats (and a pair of mittens) are in the mail, Jean.  I wish someone could be wearing it on this frigid night, I'll tell you.
-----------------------------------

*If you don't know what this title refers to, see my post for December 7.  Gayle's comment about forking a biscuit still has me in "Gayles" of laughter.

Comments

[Mel]

I've got some ack to make hat and mittens for a friend. Not my choice of materials, naturally, but said friend is vegan and needs something more than plant fibers can offer. I figure at least if I make it bulky enough it'll help. Maybe watchcap style with a flip-up band will be enough.

[Jennifer]

That's a great quote to keep in mind - Wonky is still warm. I like it. I'm so glad you've been publicizing Jean's knit-a-thon. What a great thing.

[Kathy]

The hat looks great!

[Carol]

You forgot to mention that the hat is also beautiful with those added yarns!

[Ann]

Brrrr! Sitting on my computer, looking outside and KNOWING that I have to be at the damn DMV soon, is making me cold. I even have my CPH on! Oh and look it is rainsnowing! Great another day in paradise! I hope the washer came!

[margene]

Norma to the rescue! That's a perfect fix.

[Carole]

That's a great way of reworking the edge! Norma, you are so smart.

[gayle]

Warm, functional, and beautiful, too! Don't ya love it when "fixing the wonky" makes something better than the original idea?

[Jean]

Sniff. That is so cool, Norma! Awesome hat!

[Renee]

Brilliant solution! The hat looks lovely and warm.

[kelli ann]

the hat just needed that warm, handspun makeover. lovely.

[Lucia]

Truly, there is splendor in that hat.

[Cookie]

Now that's a good lookin' hat. Great save, Norma.

[Wanda]

Sounds like a great fix Norma. And the hat looks great too.