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FO: Droplet Hat with mods

After I sewed up my Droplet hat from Knitting Nature (Why didn't I knit it in the round?), I decided that what it needed were some earflaps. You see, to make a hat truly functionable for our lovely winter weather here in Ithaca, the ears must be protected. And eventhough I have a pea-sized head, my row gauge was a little smaller than the pattern called for and I felt that the hat was just too short. So this is how it turned out:



Overall, I have to say that knitting this hat was pretty fun once I got past that first bobble row that seemed to go on forever. The no-turn bobble technique that Nora Gaughan introduced in this pattern is quite handy, if you don't mind slipping stitches. I especially liked the way she did the decreases on the crown as they are invisible and preserve the overall pattern so nicely.

Earflap Modifications:

The earflaps are centered below the 6th bobble on the bottom bobble row from either side of the back seam. (If this placement seems odd for you I would put on the hat with the seam centered in back and then mark the places above your ears with bulky yarn scraps.)

Going from right to left I picked up and knit 15 stitches on the wrong side and just slightly above the caston edge so that there would be a nice, decorative line running across the top of each flap.

R1 (right side) K2, p11, K2
R2 knit all stitches
R3 K2, p5, make bobble (MB), p5, k2
R4 Knit
R5 K2, p11, k2
R6 Knit
R7 K2, p3, mb, p3, mb, p3, k2
R8 Knit
R9 K2, p11, k2
R10 knit
R11 K2, p2tog, p3, mb, p3, p2tog, k2
R12 Knit
R13 K2, p2tog, p to last 4 stitches, p2tog, k2
R14 Knit
R15 K2, p2tog, p to last 4 stitches, p2tog, k2
R16 Knit
R17 K2, p2tog, p to last 4 stitches, p2tog, k2
R18 K2, slip 2 stitches as if to knit, k1, pass slipped stitches over knit stitch, k2
R19 K1, p3tog, k1

Knit 3 remaining stitches as I-cord for 12 inches or desired length for earflap ties. Finish with a bobble: K1, mb, slip first knit stitch over bobble stitch, slip bobble stitch onto left hand needle, k2tog, cut yarn and pull through remaining loop. Weave in ends.

On this last bobble I did a modified version of Nora Gaughan's by using a yarn over instead of kfb. So I actually had 6 bobble stitches: yo, k, yo, k, yo, k; slip back to left, purl, slip back to left, knit, p5sso. I think it's only fitting to end the droplet hat with a droplet of sorts. :-)
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Comments

JustApril said…
very VERY cool - It looks cute on you too. (from one pea to another, lol)
March 24, 2007 at 5:08 PM
Larjmarj said…
Very cute and a great color for you! I also have a peanut head!
March 25, 2007 at 12:20 PM
Prachi said…
It's a beautiful hat! Looks really lovely on you, too. I just joined the KAL after getting the book and hadn't seen that pattern closely. It is very clear even in the dark yarn.
March 31, 2007 at 10:09 PM
Zaz said…
bonjour de paris,

i like the modifications you made to the hat. i got a letter from amazon.fr telling me about this book, i found the title intriguing and got it not knowing it was on blogs and tat there was a kal.

anyway, than you very much for your explanations, and you did a good job on the earflaps, it now looks like a pixie hat (?)
please do visit my blog and leave me a note.
May 25, 2007 at 11:06 AM
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