knits, notes, etc.

i've wanted to knit this hat for a while and thought it would make perfect holiday gifts for the guys in my family. the thing is, over time, i bought a bunch of different yarn intending to knit this and that for my dad and brothers... now, you'll see a series of mods to this pattern just to work with the yarn i have at hand. first up, Thorpe in Yorkshire Tweed Aran:

i snagged adam for this photo while he was on the phone with his dad. teehee

Pattern Thorpe hat by Kirsten Kapur.
Source Kathryn Ivy.
Yarn Rowan Yorkshire Tweed, 1 Skein.
Needle US 9 (5.5 mm).
Modifications Began by casting on 8 sts, instead of four. I increased an extra round because i was afraid it would be too small. Currently, no edging or ties.

the pattern

this is such an easy pattern; i mean it. and really, as much as i love how it looks in the bulky yarns you'll find pictured on the instruction sheets, it really works well in any yarn weight. and because it's knit top-down, it's really a piece of cake to substitute other yarn weights. of course, it didn't stop me from overestimating the size for my dad... this turned out too big for him; luckily, it's perfect for my older brother. i wish i'd knitted more garter ridges, but it still looks so cute.

the yarn

i've always loved Rowan Yorkshire Tweed in all weights, though admittedly, i've only used 4-ply and aran weights. i'm glad that i'm using this for a holiday gift because i originally bought it to knit a sweater vest for my dad (gosh—5 years ago). The tweedy flecks are predominantly a deep red and a creamy white.

sadly though, this yarn can be tricky to knit with if you knit very tightly; it tends to break pretty easily. i had to be careful when doing the kfb increases. ah but the finished garment is so sturdy, thick, and soft.