Gansey hat!
I almost forgot to post pictures of the hat I made my brother. If you’ve followed my Ravelry projects or my Flickr stream, this is old news. If not, look! A hat!
There’s no pattern for this one; it’s just a collection of traditional gansey motifs from Gladys Thompson’s oldie-but-goodie, Patterns for Guernseys, Jerseys, and Arans. Plus a little improvised fancy footwork at the crown, and some short rows among the welts at the brim to cover my brother’s ears.
I bought a grungy old copy of this book at Powell’s, and there is much to mine between its ragged covers. There’s a photo of a very simple man’s pullover with gussets built into a ribbed saddle shoulder that caught me aesthetically–there don’t seem to be any notes on its construction, but it seems like the kind of thing Elizabeth Zimmermann would have “unvented” and I’m keen to play with the idea.
Let me say a word about the yarn: it’s 100% alpaca from Honey Lane Farms, a cooperative of alpaca farmers on San Juan Island. It comes in 52 beautiful colors; Saxton picked out this heathered greenish blue when we were home together in August. It’s luscious stuff. I hope it warms his head and reminds him of home.
And since I’m suddenly obsessed with my kitchen cabinets as a backdrop for knitting-related photography, check this out:
Mmmmm… Blue Moon Luscious Single Silk, unjustly named “Bleck.” “Bleck” should be a sludgy drab banana slug color, not this beautiful lilac grey. It’s not for me, but I get to knit with it: Katrin and I are making each other February Lady sweaters for Christmas. So this is the yarn for Katrin’s sweater, while she has the two skeins of Blue Moon Twisted in “Corbie” I chose. Now all I need is a quiet weekend (and a manicure!) to get started. I daren’t haul pure silk around in one of my many bags for chance fly-by knitting moments.
Posted: November 6th, 2008 at 5:18 pm
cute hat as ever. i love those ganseys but the construction is pretty intricate i think. haven’t tried that gusset thing yet. lovely colour too.
wow it is a great idea to swap same sweaters for christmas. i don’t know any knitters here but me, and then my friend but she knits at a very slow speed and hence she knits exclusively for herself.
Posted: November 6th, 2008 at 7:07 pm
What a great color for your brother’s hat! But then, I’m biased, as I’ve chosen it for the beret I’ve started. 🙂
Your kitchen cabinets are so pretty. They must have come with your house? They look sweetly old-fashioned.
Posted: November 6th, 2008 at 7:15 pm
Great hat & Great cabinets! :0)
Posted: November 6th, 2008 at 9:20 pm
the hat is great as is the backdrop. and you look very happy wearing it.
i just finished my FLS and it is such a great knit, engaging and speedy and with that yarn, luxurious. cannot wait to see the exchange. i wonder how different the pieces will be due to two different knitters. h…
Posted: November 7th, 2008 at 4:47 am
That hat is brilliant and I’m in love with that silk yarn. And the idea of making each other sweaters for Christmas is lovely. I can’t wait to see a pic of you two wearing your sweaters!
Posted: November 7th, 2008 at 4:56 am
Love the hat! Especially the way the horseshoe cable separates at the top 🙂
Oooh, a silk FLS?! Fancy!
Posted: November 7th, 2008 at 7:46 am
such a cute hat! but i’m wondering what that sweater is that you’re wearing..? i love the black and cream!
Posted: November 7th, 2008 at 8:02 am
I just started my FLS this morning before work. I love how polished all of the ones I’ve seen have been! This one should be lovely in the silk (If I enjoy making this one, I will probably make another one or two because it also looks like a relatively fast knit).
Posted: November 8th, 2008 at 12:50 pm
Cool! I love the way you incorporated the cables into the top of the hat. The top decrease area is always what makes or breaks a hat pattern for me. I’ll be sure to check out the farm, too–I love the idea of your “knit local” project, and west coast is about as close as I’m able to get to local.
Posted: November 9th, 2008 at 1:18 pm
Nice hat! I love the idea of putting short rows in the brim so that it’ll cover the ears!! I always want my hats just a little longer right there. Brilliant.
Posted: November 10th, 2008 at 5:46 am
That hat is fabulous. I’m sure it will be well appreciated. It looks nice and warm.
Posted: November 11th, 2008 at 11:49 am
You really do knit the most beautiful hats!
Posted: November 13th, 2008 at 3:22 pm
Hello. I’m a big fan of your blog and your knitting. This hat is really incredible. So are the Kitchen Cabinets, especially with the yarn in the dishes! And that sweater you’re wearing is also really incredible, is that something you made as well?