Well I’ve been working on this hat for a couple of weeks now. This is my 2nd hat. The first hat was a little too big. This one turned out to be a little too small and doesn’t really slouch properly. I ended up giving it to my step-daughter who has a pretty tiny head. I’m pretty bummed about it. I spent a lot of money on the yarn and it was my first cable project.
This has pretty much put me off hats at this point. Can’t seem to get them right. :verysad:
[FONT=Comic Sans MS][COLOR=Sienna][SIZE=3][B]The hat turned out beautifully[FONT=Arial][SIZE=4][I]![/I][/SIZE][/FONT] [/B][/SIZE]
I can understand wanting the pricey yarn on your own head.
Personally, I find it impossible to knit [B]exactly[/B] the required gauge given on a pattern. It makes me wonder if the pictured knit was actually knit to [B]exact[/B] gauge.
Aren’t cables fun?
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You did a beautiful job on it!
Did you do a swatch to measure your gauge before you started? If you didn’t, then perhaps your gauge was a bit different than that of the pattern. If you did, then maybe the pattern was a little misleading in terms of the finished size (I’ve seen patterns before where I could not figure out how they could say that the finished size was X given that the gauge and the number of stitches cast on should have equalled a finished size of Y).
I would maybe take a break from hats for a bit and try something else since you’re a little disappointed with them right now. When you decide to try it again, be sure to measure your gauge AND take a minute to ensure that your gauge and the number of cast on stitches will create a hat that is the right measurement. I usually measure my head and then aim for a finished measurement that is an inch or two smaller than my head measurement to account for stretching of the fabric when you put it on. This depends on the style of the hat though - some are meant to be baggier/slouchier, in which case I would make sure that the ribbed part fits in this way so that it will stay on my head.
Congrats on completing your first cable project (cables weren’t as hard as you thought, right? 
), and good luck next time! :knitting:
I absolutely love doing and seeing cables- and wearing them! You did a great job- just sounds like you didn’t figure out a gauge to work for you or didn’t do a gauge swatch? Also, as depressing or annoying as it is, I would have frogged once I saw it didn’t seem big enough, then added more stitches to the thing. I’ve been doing that lately to patterns, when a yarn I want to use doesn’t work, even with pairing it with something else to get the correct gauge. Yeah… I got so sick of matching other people’s gauges with the needles and yarn they want you to use, I started just using what I have… then, I was sick of nothing working, so I made my own pattern. >.< yeah…
That was probably the problem. She doesn’t give a gauge for this pattern. Just says to CO 80. And while I did get a HW yarn - I’m not sure it was the same thickness as the yarn she used, plus my needles were .5 mm smaller than hers. I just CO an additional 4 to make up for it - but it didn’t work.
At this point, I’m thinking I need to get the actual yarn and needles that are used in the pattern to pull of a good hat. And if they give gauge (which they usually do), I’ll be sure to check it first.
Yeah, what I would have done was knit the band up then see how it fit around the head. If it didn’t fit right, I would have checked my gauge, to see how many stitches per inch I knitted. Then, I would have frogged the band, added the amount needed, including any extra to keep the cable pattern right. Then, I might have had to add more cable columns but if you do your math right, that’s not too hard… just more repeats than they say. I might have just knit the whole thing without breaking yarn, checked it, adjusted for both fit and slouch… seeing that the fit wasn’t right, then frogged and re-done lol… but I’m the type that’ll work until it’s right and not give up. Persistent little bugger that I am… Nah, don’t buy stuff if you don’t have to… really…
I think this hat looks awesome! I love the yarn you chose, and the cable pattern is really cute. You did a wonderful job on it, too. Lucky step-daughter! Maybe next time you can go up a needle size or two to get the size you want. Don’t give up – you’re almost there.
I’m not to the point where I can change the pattern on the cuff and make it look okay. Or maybe I am and I’m just too chicken to try. Right now I’m amazed at folks that can just make up a pattern! I was reading this chick’s blog the other day and she said, “I had this extra yarn laying around so I decided to whip up this spring sweater…” and it fit her perfectly! :noway:
And you know… the more I look at the pics, the more I think I should have just kept it. lol (She’ll probably never wear it.) I said, do you want this hat? And she said, “Sure.”
Well it looks beautiful! I have issues with hats fitting as well. I’m always surprised when they turn out like they’re supposed to. LOL
I’m reading the Yarn Harlot’s “Knitting Rules!” and she certainly recommends never knitting anything without doing a swatch first…to determine if you have the right sized needles for your chosen yarn.
The size for swatching is usually on the yarn’s paper cover. It will tell you how many stitches you should get per inch for a certain size needle. (or it will say something like “4 stitches = one inch”. This allows you to knit a little square, say 16 (or 4, or 12 or…) inches wide, and do 16 (or 4, or 12, or…) rows
It’s very pretty, and you did a great job. I would do it again, but next time check your guage and do a test swatch.
Well it sure is a nice hat! I just printed a copy of this adorable hat! Thanks for the link!
BTW: the hat looked real nice on you…I would never guess it’s too small…however, yay! for your step-daughter! She inherits a really nice hat!!!
So maybe not the size you wanted but you did an amazing job. I think the hat is beautiful and looks great on the model.
your hat turned out very nice.
But I understand your frustration.
In my first glance I would say: your yarn had more structure but was lighter weight than the pattern. That means, finally, that the other hat slouches more.
And seriously: On MY head that sample hat would not sit right and not slouch at all or it would slip off to the back. I just could not wear a hat that way. Who knows if she really does walk around with it successfully.
Nonetheless: yours turned out great. So don’t be sorry.
Aww, thanks guys. 
(And that’s my step-daughter modeling it for me. She hasn’t worn it since.)
Sometimes a pattern is not great. I made a hat on which I added inches above the cuff, because there was no way the original could have been 7’ total length and still covered the ears. I made another in which, following the directions, I ended up with far too many reverse stockinette st on the 2 sides of the seam. I was too green to change the pattern.
I like your yarn. What is it?
Hi…I just completed my first cable hat (under watcha knitting)…I agree GAUGE…IMO I think the “color” of your yarn doesn’t do justice to the cables…your work is great!!!
I’ve been feeling the same way lately about my knitting beginnings. I look at all these gorgeous projects people are doing and it makes me itch because I want to be able to post photos of glorious sweaters and fantastic jackets, but I’m still on k2/p2 and increase/decrease. I’m not even working cables yet! Don’t lose faith though because when I started out crocheting (yes, I started a “hooker” and continued a “knitter”) I had to constantly use a different gauge than every single pattern ever suggested. I’d say I’m at advanced with crochet and beginning/advanced beginner with my knitting. I believe in you! I believe in your mission for the perfect hat!
The hat is beautifully done with great cables and in a gorgeous color. Really, it’s almost perfect and will probably turn out to be a favorite of your step-daughter’s, too.
Yes, gauge is important but maybe the lesson is not to knit patterns that don’t give gauge. I’m such a loose knitter that I’d have no hope of coming close without a gauge direction and swatch.
Next hat is the keeper!
It’s a beautiful hat. Sorry that it didn’t fit you, I’m sure the next one will be better. But don’t worry, everyone has had gauge problems. I know I still do. I had to remake a hat 3 times because I didn’t like how it turned out. Still not happy with it btw, I may be redoing it a 4th time xD