The final days of 2013 were spent getting a jump start on Charity 2014. I tell you this not to brag about my humble contributions, but to encourage you to consider how you might bring a bit of joy in the coming year. Let it be a hat for anyone from a premmie to an adult or perhaps a lap blanket for a senior or the every popular cage liner for your local no-kill shelter. There is always a need - right around the corner.
For a few weeks I was caught up in the top of hats. Making something different for the crown became a journey to answer the eternal query "where should the decreases be placed this time?"
Here is the
Odessa Hat from Grumperina. With or without beads, it is a perfect pattern for charity work because it fits a wide range of sizes. Isn't that swirl fantastic? I love it.
The pattern is a series of decreases and YO increases that make a swirl all the way to the top. If you are looking for a hat that is slightly more than a beginner level but not so complicated as lace work, give Odessa a try.
This is the crown of another hat. This one is just a variation of my 8 X 80 hat pattern. Eight decreases are worked evenly around the crown. With proper blocking, it would probably look like an octagon on the top.
The sides of the hat are just a series of rounds of knit or purl stitches - aka alternating stockinette and reverse stockinette bands.
The hat squishes down naturally but expands to fit different head shapes. The green might look rather nondescript but the pattern give it a bit of a jaunty feel.
This one shall for ever be known as the Xcellent Hat. The name comes from the crown that results from four mirrored decreases. Not only does a nice X result, but the round knitting is magically turned into a square at the top.
Again, this is my typical 8 X 80 hat pattern. The ribbing is made extra deep so that it can turn up. The yarn is Universal Yarn
Classic Shades Frenzy. It stripes quite well but in a somewhat unpredictable way at my gauge. Frankly, I like the lack of symmetry. The thing about this yarn is that it is described as a bulky yarn. I had absolutely no problem working it down on a US 8 needle and it is not at all heavy or tight. The final hat is a bit larger than the green one above but it fits a large male head just fine.
After these three hats - one a published pattern and two of my own design - I am still searching out different ways to top off charity hats. The next few weeks will bring a diversion, but 2014 charity work just might be a journey toward crowning glory.
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