Serendipity's Evil Twin!
I have long admired Shannon's Serendipity Hat ( Dreams of Yarn) made with her beautiful pastel handspun. The pattern came from Interweave's Spin Off magazine, so of course I had to buy the issue!
Isn't her hat fabulous? Is it any wonder I fell in love with it???
When I got my new spinning wheel (which I haven't used yet because it needs some final assembly now that the finish has cured) the eBay seller Spinning Bunny sent me a little package with an extra drive band and some other assorted stuff, including a 4 oz wad of roving called Mahogany Colonial. I don't know the content other than that it's wool, sort of a mid-range as far as microns go. Since it was only 4 oz I knew it would only be a small project lot so I spun it and plus about a 2 1/2 oz hank of 50/50 merino/silk because I couldn't find any other white roving in my stash! It was actually a great opportunity to try the merino/silk - talk about luxury roving! Silky soft but it will definitely halo. Quite a noticeable difference between it and the Mahogany Colonial!
Mahogany Colonial roving Ready to Knit!
The original hat pattern made a hat with a 15" circumference. I wanted a large adult size so I spun a thicker weight which knit a gauge of 5 stitches per inch. It has six pattern repeats like the instructions but by the time the color work was done it was time to decrease already. Since I used a 16" circular needle (4.5mm) I couldn't do the decreases "at the end of each DPN" (d'oh!) so I put a stitch marker between each section of pattern and did my decreases there. The end result pleased me, even if it doesn't have the triangular-pointy top. I'm not especially fond of excessively pointy hats anyways. Here, when it's winter you want a head-hugger hat!!! So without further ado I present Serendipity's Evil Twin!! LOL!!
Yes, I even coerced one of my children to model it! Absolutely an adult size!! It never ceases to amaze me how the bands of color in the roving disappear when spun. In spite of initial appearances it only adds a little hint of color here and there in the finished project. For me, it's much too subtle effect for all the work involved in layering the colored roving together. I don't mind spinning or knitting with it but I sure can't see myself making it from scratch!! Way too many nice rovings already out there to go to all that work!! But I guess that's just my lazy bias!! LOL!!
Isn't her hat fabulous? Is it any wonder I fell in love with it???
When I got my new spinning wheel (which I haven't used yet because it needs some final assembly now that the finish has cured) the eBay seller Spinning Bunny sent me a little package with an extra drive band and some other assorted stuff, including a 4 oz wad of roving called Mahogany Colonial. I don't know the content other than that it's wool, sort of a mid-range as far as microns go. Since it was only 4 oz I knew it would only be a small project lot so I spun it and plus about a 2 1/2 oz hank of 50/50 merino/silk because I couldn't find any other white roving in my stash! It was actually a great opportunity to try the merino/silk - talk about luxury roving! Silky soft but it will definitely halo. Quite a noticeable difference between it and the Mahogany Colonial!
Mahogany Colonial roving Ready to Knit!
The original hat pattern made a hat with a 15" circumference. I wanted a large adult size so I spun a thicker weight which knit a gauge of 5 stitches per inch. It has six pattern repeats like the instructions but by the time the color work was done it was time to decrease already. Since I used a 16" circular needle (4.5mm) I couldn't do the decreases "at the end of each DPN" (d'oh!) so I put a stitch marker between each section of pattern and did my decreases there. The end result pleased me, even if it doesn't have the triangular-pointy top. I'm not especially fond of excessively pointy hats anyways. Here, when it's winter you want a head-hugger hat!!! So without further ado I present Serendipity's Evil Twin!! LOL!!
Yes, I even coerced one of my children to model it! Absolutely an adult size!! It never ceases to amaze me how the bands of color in the roving disappear when spun. In spite of initial appearances it only adds a little hint of color here and there in the finished project. For me, it's much too subtle effect for all the work involved in layering the colored roving together. I don't mind spinning or knitting with it but I sure can't see myself making it from scratch!! Way too many nice rovings already out there to go to all that work!! But I guess that's just my lazy bias!! LOL!!
Which Spin Off magazine is that? I think I have quite a lot of them, but can't remember seeing that hat. I just finishe Amy King's Fake Isle Hat. I love it. The one you made is just wonderful too! And you are so quick! I think you should change your blog title! ;o) You spin and knit so fast, my head is spinning! Ha. ;o)
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It is Spin Off Spring 2007 - The Serendipity Hearts Hat. And actually it just looks like I work fast. The truth is I work slow and post even slower!! You're looking at a week's worth!! LOL
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Your Hat looks terrific!!!
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Thanks, Monica! I'm in a Fair Isle mood right now. I might try this hat as well! ;o)
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I love your version!! Great looking hat! And the darker color is very very flattering with the white snowflakes and hearts!
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I'm so glad you like it! Your compliment means a great deal to me as I hold your version to be the 'gold standard'! It was a lot easier to knit than I thought but I think it's partly because I had already knit a hat from Elizabeth Zimmerman's Knitting Workshop DVD. Thanks again for leading the way! tee hee!
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You are so kind to my version!! And I must say your spinning is turning out to be amazing.
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