Fair Play
Lace project is still waiting, but before I put away the cotton yarn, it’s time for one more go on an impromptu baby hat.
Been knitting for a few years now.
Have indulged in intarsia.
Have copped onto cables.
Have dabbled in design.
Am fearful of Fair Isle.
That is, until now.
The thought of Fair Isle has scared me, to be honest. All those strands of yarn thwoinging themselves into a shameless tangle, maintaining order only by my feeble attempts at manual dexterity. Ack! Had the same feeling when subduing the intarsia beast.
But something small was an ideal way to overcome my irrational fear. Right, so taking a simple design from a Debbie Bliss bootie pattern and adapting it to another pattern-free cotton baby hat, the result is, well, a fairly passable imitation of Fair Isle. Kinda wishing I’d put a couple of rows of ‘checker boarding’ above and below the main design, though. Looks a little plain, I think. But, something to consider for next time. And I have to say that I’m liking the ‘SKP’ rather than ‘K2TOG’ decreases on the top of this hat, creating a cute swirl on the crown, although the photo makes the hat look a little wonky…needs a cute little baby head in it!
And now that I have a few babies among my acquaintance, the opportunities for experimenting with various designs will be plentiful, I’d say.
It’s adorable; and congratulations on the design of it!
28 Apr 2008 at 3:25 am
Cute babies make every thing look better! Nice hat, even without a baby. I think Fair Isle is simpler than cabling, once you get the hang of it.
28 Apr 2008 at 1:39 pm
What a sweet hat - great project for conquering your fear. Enjoy your triumph!
29 Apr 2008 at 12:59 am
congrats to you for tackling the fair isle beast and coming out winningly on the other side! the hat is really sweet.
29 Apr 2008 at 6:28 am
this post makes me think that until now I haven’t seen anyone knitting Fair Isle among the Irish knitters I’ve met at This Is Knit. And I would really love to knit FI…I’ve just made 1 poncho 2 years ago, but it was more intersia that FI…should speak of that with Lisa and Jackie. Go on with colours…it’s really lovely.
29 Apr 2008 at 7:53 am
What an adorable little hat! “Thwoinging” is exactly what all those strands do, and exactly why I’m still afraid of Fair Isle. Maybe someday…
29 Apr 2008 at 5:51 pm
What an adorable hat! You’ve done a super job. Thanks for sharing.
29 Apr 2008 at 9:56 pm
if all else failed and you’d run out of “victims” for more baby hats - I am sure the premies in the local hospital would appreciate a nice little hat too:)) with or without fair-isle!:))
29 Apr 2008 at 10:13 pm