When I saw Leslie's perfect, little Swirl Hat, I knew I had to make one. I mean, how could I not?
I consider this one my test run. The entire time I was making it, I was worried that I would run out of yarn. Also, I couldn't exactly understand how it would all come together in the end, and I had difficulty just trusting the pattern, although I should have. I know exactly what I will change to make the next one perfect.
I will pick up stitches from the wrong side for for the brim, pick up fewer stitches to gather the top, make a smaller pom pom, and use yarn that is a little less thick. While lovely, the Highlander Alpaca With a Twist in Hawthorne Pink was just a bit too heavy for this hat. Now that I've made one, I want to start another one right away. They are definitely addictive.
Perhaps the best part of the project was that it provided me the opportunity to use my brand new Clover pom pom maker. This is the third set of pom pom makers I have purchased. None of the others yielded better results than the old method of using cardboard that my mom taught me when I was eight. However, this one?
This ingenious Clover device?
Perfection!
I may spend all day tomorrow just making pom poms....
That is a great hat - I think the big pom pom is great!!
Posted by: Rose Red | 20 October 2007 at 06:43 AM
How cute is that? and that pom-pom maker looks like the coolest....i still use the cardboard...just like mom taught me. :) i love that big pompom!
Nice changes you will make....i too had a hard time mentally figuring out how it would come together....then voila! a swirl hat! :)
Posted by: leslie | 20 October 2007 at 08:15 AM
So swirly, I love it!
Posted by: Heather | 20 October 2007 at 08:48 AM
Love, love, love that hat! And I think the pom pom is just right.
Yet another book to add to my library. Oh, and that the neato Clover pom pom maker too.
Posted by: Anne | 20 October 2007 at 07:21 PM
The hat is lovely, and I rather like the look of the pom pom maker!
Posted by: Lin | 21 October 2007 at 02:38 AM
Cute hat!
Posted by: Bliss | 21 October 2007 at 09:08 AM
Very cute! I'm going to have to get that pompom maker - just for fun!
Posted by: tiennie | 21 October 2007 at 04:41 PM
You know I love this hat, don't you? Have you seen the snail hat in EZ: Knitting Without Tears? Very similar...
Posted by: Nora | 22 October 2007 at 06:08 AM
Very cute! love the Pom-pom!
Posted by: tlcknits | 22 October 2007 at 10:51 AM
How can you not love swirls and pom-poms, love the color!
Posted by: sabrina | 22 October 2007 at 01:20 PM
It's such a cute little hat! And your pom-poms are perfect! It looks like you have a great little tool for making them.
Posted by: Kristy | 22 October 2007 at 04:28 PM
That is so cute, too! Don't you hate when you can't "relax" with a pattern because you don't trust that it is going to work? You articulated that so perfectly. I TOTALLY have this issue with a sweater I'm making; I think the person was smoking crack, but keep on plugging... then I'm not sure I did what the crack smoker said to do... but keep on plugging... until I just don't any more, and it sits in a plastic bag. Under the bed. Maybe with a hat it's easier to trust. Maybe pattern designers shouldn't smoke crack in the first place. I don't know. But clearly, I have gone way past my allotted words, and so now will be quiet. But maybe I'll stop by Leslie's (was it Leslie?) for that hat pattern, first. In for a penny, ya' know?
Posted by: madmad | 22 October 2007 at 04:49 PM
Happy Birthday Mags!
Posted by: tlcknits | 23 October 2007 at 11:29 AM
Yum, reminds me of a soft-serve ice cream cone!
Posted by: Karen Vogel | 25 October 2007 at 01:22 PM
Dude! That hat is awesome! Talk about a perfect holiday gift for some kid... (you like how I said that "some kid". Nice, right?) B-SNAK might even have that book (even though she's Not A Knitter!). You may've just solved a very important holiday gift dilemma. Thanks!
Posted by: Dr. B. | 25 October 2007 at 08:40 PM