Odessa Hat
Remember the blurred picture I showed you of a project I finished for a friend last week? I went on a brief visit to upstate NY earlier this week for a talk, and met up with her. Hanging out with her and giving her the gift, and the stunning fall foliage totally made up for the dismal work trip. Seriously, flying cross-country and airport food apart, there is little more depressing than not getting good questions or feedback on some research that you present to an audience of your peers with great enthusiasm.
But, here’s what I made for her, Grumperina’s Odessa Hat:
Specs: One skein of Louet Gems Merino Sport (100% wool) in black and one skein of 80% llama/20%silk from Double K Diamond Llamas & Fiber, held together. It took me approx. 160 yards of each skein to make the hat.
I bought the llama blend at Estes Park a couple of years ago (Spud, this was when we went together.) It’s not that soft, but blended with the Louet, it makes for a very squishy and warm hat. My friend had asked for a black hat, but I added the greyish flecks with the llama to give it some body and texture.
Gauge: slightly bigger than that specified in the pattern, but it didn’t matter too much since the hat stretches anyway. I used size 6 addi circulars.
This pattern is great! Grumperina’s blog is just a teeeeny bit annoying at times (I can’t place my finger on why, exactly, and I still do read it regularly), but she is one talented designer. This is such a simple, intuitive and elegant pattern and the ribs swirl beautifully into the crown. Very neatly conceived, and a smart twist (heh) to the standard ribbed watch cap. Took me 2 days to make and I’d definitely make one in a lighter colour again. I left out the beads, though, because they looked a little gaudy to me.
After a long time, I had one of my favourite comfort foods, which said friend made for me: Thalipeeth (lit. Marathi for "flour-in-a-pan"). Hot, crisp and nutritious, it’s a quick dinner fix when you don’t want a whole meal, and with Marathi kakdichi koshimbir (cucumber raita with crushed peanuts) it was just heaven.
Nice hat!
That looks so good. I might have to try the recipe you linked to. Sounds good, too:) I love different grains!
I like the grey flecks in the hat – nice touch!
That’s my big head right there — but the hat is soooo good! I expect to wear it everyday real soon here. And yes, the grey in it is a great addition, I think. Thank you so much for taking the effort to make it for me.
I am so glad we got a chance to hang out together even if it was for such a brief while. Now I wait for the next time we can fan out flames with a green blanket again.
“there is little more depressing than not getting good questions or feedback on some research that you present to an audience of your peers with great enthusiasm. ”
anyone else NOT looking forward to Madison?
Anjali, next time you bring the accelerant, I will provide the house!
Alison, go for the Thalipeeth, it is very easy to make, really.
Sepoy: totally not looking fwd to Madison. at least you’re only driving four hours, that too with friends. How did I get roped into four conferences this year?
Anjali, I am v jealous!
How does one join the stitches? Every time I have tried something like this, there’s at least a half inch piece of yarn between the first cast on and the last stitch. So I just throw it away in disgust.
No fret. We will have our own conference within Madison. And by conference, I mean, sessions of talking/chai/’tinis. 4 conferences!
I am glad I’m not the only one who thinks her blog is over the top….
But that IS a great hat.
Manisha, check out knittinghelp.com’s video tutorial on circular joins (http://knittinghelp.com/knitting/advanced_techniques/). It is a little tricky, but eventually you’ll get it. Sometimes what I do is I cast on one more stitch than the number I need, and then I knit the first cast on and last stitch together in the first round. This keeps the ends together. But you also just have to knit those first few stitches a little tightly. Earlier I also just fudged. I knit the first couple of rows straight, back and forth, and then joined in the round, and used the cast on tail to sew up the straight rows once I was done.
Sepoy, let this be a lesson. I’m beginning to think there’s a reason univs fund only one conference a year. But looking fwd to seeing you next week!
Sangeeta, thanks! This was a very satisfying project.
Love how your Odessa turned out. It is a very cool pattern, definitely one I hope to try at some point.
Oh thats a very nice hat! I’d love to knit it if only someone would wear it! In the midst of a sixteen colour yarn project and I am going to scour your blog to find out how to shape it into something like a jacket.
Any clues?
Hat’s lovely! Wasn’t that yarn going to be gloves for your husband? Or was that some other fancy fiber? I just remember you looking at the tiny quantity of very very thin qiviut and contemplating it… I think, at least. I could be making that up. My mind’s a bit fuzzy at the moment.
Also, beadless is better. Particularly with that yarn choice, but I think generally, too, for hats. Unless they’re big and fancy and haberdasheried to death.
Jyotsna AKA DHL, welcome to the blog; I’m a regular reader of your’s! What’s this 16 colour project, and what did it start out as? I don’t do that much colourwork, and sixteen at once sounds quite intrepid of you. Will you post a pic of it on TCC? I might be able to comment better about hte jacket conversion after looking at it.
Spud, the Llama was indeed intended for gloves for the spouse. Alas, it doesn’t have much give, so I won’t be using it for them. And I did gaze longingly at the qiviut, also for a scarf for P.
Obviously I should not read your blog when I’m hungry! Now I am craving paratha (though I know it’s not the same as thalipeeth, which I have yet to try). *tummy rumble*
The hat turned out great!
hi sneaksleep, so did you eat any paratha, then?? do come back to the blog, i’ll probably post more food pictures in the near future.
Your hat turned out beautifully. I find the little projects give so much gratification, not to mention warmth now that the cold weather is upon us. I did come for the knitting, but found the thalipeeth a bonus. Now I’m going to stock up on the grains and give it a try.
So I crocheted my first cap the other night. And that, coupled with a felted bag I am working on, has given me some confidence to try this Odessa hat. Where do I get 16″ circular needles? The smallest I have seen is 24″ at Michaels. The local knitting shop has closed down. Is there an online store you can recommend?
So I did it. It could be neater. Next one will be. I am looking for fingerless mitts to match. Any suggestions for a pattern?
The link did not go through. It’s here.