As we packed our car for the drive up to Vermont on Friday I grabbed Little Sir's hat that I made a few months back. I figured, Vermont=cold, cold=hat, right? The only problem? The cute hat was way too small. Somewhere in the past four months, Little Sir's noggin got really big (like the rest of him, I guess). So I grabbed that random ball of Cashmerino Aran from the Project Spectrum resource stash and knit the kid another hat.
It's just another simple basic hat using Ann Budd's great template-y book, the only reservation I had was the length of the hat, I think it a little longish, but that's okay. The hat serves its purpose, it keeps the kid's head, ears and forehead warm, which really was the point.
He didn't have it to sport about town while in Vermont (which was fabulous, by the way; if you are looking for a good place to knit in southern Vermont visit the good people at Nutmeg Country Inn in Wilmington, Gerry and Sue will treat you right (and best of all they feed you the best of all possible breakfasts to get you started for a long day of skiing or knitting or whatever else you can think of); but since I finished the hat on the way back home yesterday Little Sir was able to wear it to school this morning.
While in Vermont I made a few yarn purchases, nothing ridiculous, just a few things that called out to me in persuasive hushed tones, you know how it is. I went to a farm that sells handspun yarn and bought two skeins of fingering weight merino, it's soft and luscious and smells like nature itself. I also visited a local yarn shop in Wilmington which is still in the process of being set up. I originally went in thinking, "oh, I can get some other shade of Cashmerino to make a hat of stripey goodness for Little Sir (a la Ashley's hat for Isaiah), but no luck on that front, there was no Cashmerino to be found...but there was plenty of Koigu and Rowan Yorkshire Aran Tweed 4-ply (on sale even, you know it's been discontinued, snap it up when you can). The colors are bright and shocking and totally not me, but we all need to mix things up some times. I will share the outrageousness of color in the not too distant future, I wouldn't want to shock you too much. So instead I leave you with a small touch of gray, which is quite kid friendly, if you think about it.
Basic Toddler Hat
Pattern: from Ann Budd's A Knitter's Handy Book of Patterns
Yarn: Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran, 1 skein (I had 8 inches of yarn left)
Needles: Bamboo DPNs, US 5
Modifications: None, just followed the template for the appropriate size and style
A very simple knit. This took less than four hours to knit, it could have taken less time if I had not unnecessarily knit the prescribed length for the crown, like I said, a bit longish. Sometimes you need to be careful with the Budd book, use your best judgement--be the boss of your knitting, and all that.
every time I've done a hat from that book it comes out way too long! that came out adorable though - I like how it covers his ears!
Posted by: stacey | February 05, 2007 at 03:06 PM
I bet the extra length will actually help the hat fit a little longer. It's very cute, and isn't the Cashmerino wonderful? I know it eventually pills and people think the negligible amount of cashmere makes it a silly marketing ploy, but it's still so soft and squishy that I don't care.
Posted by: Rachel | February 05, 2007 at 04:26 PM
I like the hat like that - I think the length will be good when he grows even more.
Posted by: tiennie | February 05, 2007 at 04:36 PM
I go back to Ann Budd's book all the time - a great reference and one of my more used knitting books.
I like children's hats to be longer - no chance ears won't be covered! He is so ADORABLE!!
Posted by: Pat | February 05, 2007 at 05:27 PM
Adorable--and yeah, long hat=room to grow!
Posted by: Ashley | February 06, 2007 at 01:20 AM
He's so adorable! There are no words... mwah!
Posted by: Karma | February 06, 2007 at 02:29 AM
What an adorable picture. I want to kiss those little apple cheeks!
Posted by: Barb | February 06, 2007 at 05:39 AM
Your little boy is such a cutie in that hat! :-)
Posted by: joy | February 07, 2007 at 12:50 PM
So cute. I don't think I could really even get a good look at the hat, which I'm sure is lovely, with that cute face sticking out of it.
Posted by: Christy / Not Hip | February 07, 2007 at 11:05 PM
Oh, what a gorgeous hat this is, and the Little Sir looks so absolutely cute and adorable with it! I agree, the length is perfect as it is, there's room enough to grow for the little one!
Posted by: Dipsy D. | February 09, 2007 at 05:33 AM
Little Sir is so cute with that hat!
Posted by: knit around the world | February 10, 2007 at 03:08 PM