Category Archives: hat

ACCESSORIES in Fibre Co Acadia

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Prologue

Today is accessories day! Last time we covered some inspiring sweater projects, but now it’s time to look at some smaller, faster, and simpler projects. I’ve included a link for finished projects in the materials section for each project, so you can check out how people peoples look. Here’s a link so you can see ALL the accessory project ideas.

My choice of projects is simple and accessible. There have been so many new knitters since COVID landed, and I know you don’t have the same access to in-person education that you normally would. Knitting has historically been taught from person to person, and i know how hard it’s been on you trying to learn from books and the internet. I’m also hearing from so many people who tell me they’re experiencing brain-fog and are having a hard time focussing – you’re in VERY good company and I’ve been trying to keep that in mind when I choose suggestions.

USE code ACADIA10 at checkout to receive 10% OFF your ONLINE purchase of Fibre Co. Acadia!

  • This offer is only available for a limited time and EXPIRES at 11:59pm October 26, 2020.
  • Make as many purchases as you like, there’s no limit on the number of times you use this discount code before it expires.
  • This offer does NOT apply to in-store purchases.
  • You can have your online order shipped or pick it up in store, you can chose at check-out.

Fibre Co. Acadia is a luscious, and slightly rustic looking blend of silk-noil, baby alpaca and fine merino wool. It’s Ideal for creating a handmade wardrobe that can be worn almost all year round, Acadia comes in a range of colours that sit well together to offer makers ample choice for projects.

Most of the shades in Acadia have a heathered appearance created from layers of beautiful raw fibres of natural brown baby alpaca, ecru merino tops and silk-noil, which is then kettle dyed creating subtle duotones. Shades such as Egret, Sand and Mountain Ash use other natural shades of alpaca including white, light fawn and grey.

  • 60% Merino wool, 20% baby alpaca, 20% silk
  • 50g/133m (145 yds)
  • DK weight
  • 21 to 23 sts = 10 cm/4″
  • 3.75/US5 to 4 mm/US6 needles
  • Gently hand wash colours separately in cool water.
  • We recommend alternating hanks as you work to give an overall blended appearance.
  • Made in Peru
Photos: Churchmouse Yarns & Teas, KnitOnePurlTootoo

Easy Folded Poncho

I love this poncho, it transcends trends and always keeps you cozy and warm. It’s easy to knit (just one long stockinette rectangle), easy to finish, and easy to throw on.

Skill Level

Beginner (after your first scarves), less experienced knitters, or those of us with COVID related brain-fog who need something REALLY simple.

Size

  • Poncho: 22 x 50″/56 x 127cm, before folding
  • Cowl: 24″/61cm around x 8″/20cm tall.

Yarn

Fibre Co. Acadia:

  • With cowl: 7 skeins
  • Without cowl: 6 skeins 

Other Materials

Photos: Susus, Happy Knits

Rikke

A lot of people undervalue the textural possibilities of garter stitch, but it makes for simple, a beautiful aesthetic while adding extra warmth and stretch. It doesn’t hurt that the Acadia’s luxe-rustic texture just looks better with texture.

Skill Level

This project is great for less experienced knitters. You may not want to make it your very first-ever hat (go for a thicker yarn and very basic beanie or slouchy beanie shape for that), but it’s good for adding a few more small skills.

Size

  • One Size
  • Fits Adult – between 21-23″

Materials

Photos: Orange Flower Yarn, YarnFolkAnn

Age of Brass & Steam Kerchief

Kerchief sized wraps are great little projects, a good way to test out a smaller quantity of yarn, and if you want it bigger you can keep knitting. Kerchiefs are super popular as scarfy/neck accessories: they cover up your vulnerable parts without all the bulk around the sides and hanging down your front.

Skill Level

This project is great for less experienced knitters.

Materials

Photos: barbarascohen, Stephen West

Boneyard Shawl

The Boneyard Shawl is an oldie but a goodie. The simplicity of the design lets the yarn shine, plus its an easy knit for less experienced knitters. It’s a bit bigger than the Age of Brass & Steam Kerchief, and gives you more coverage.

FYI: if you adore the the hand-painted red in the picture of above try Malabrigo Arroyo in 33 Cereza.

Skill Level

This project is great for less experienced knitters.

Materials

USE code ACADIA10 at checkout to receive 10% OFF your ONLINE purchase of Fibre Co. Acadia!

Fibre Co Road to China Light

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On The C Train

Finally a moment to myself … this project is LONG overdue for blogging, I apologize to you and to it! It’s an On the C Train that I made for my new beau … his first knitted gift. It didn’t really fit him, he turned out to have a surprisingly large head and required more slouch … this is why people date, you need to learn about each other (hat size being crucial for a knitter).

Fit notwithstanding, it came out beautifully! I used Fibre Company Road to China Light and held two strands together, so it is nice and dense and warm. The yarn is OMG WTF DROOL!!! It’s a blend of cashmere, silk, camel and baby alpaca, and it’s totally to die for. I made the hat, but I still hadn’t had enough of it for I made a cowl (below) and after that I cast on for a sweater (still in the works). I was also thinking about making a wrap with it, maybe a Night Shift.

Materials

Pashmina Cowl

My second project with Fibre Company Road to China Light … a Pashmina Cowl. I found the pattern in one of my favourite older books Last Minute Knitted Gifts, which can be accessed digitally though the public library. The pattern is so dead easy anybody can do it, it’s very beginner friendly. Check out my project notes on Ravelry for direction. I like it because it’s all about the yarn, which kind of deserves a party thrown in it’s honour.

Size

  • 17″ long x 11″ wide (after blocking)
  • fit is loose & casual

Materials

Fibre Company Road to China Light

Fibre Company Road to China Light is the sexiest yarn I’ve ever come across. Seriously, it’s ambrosia! Some clever person thought to combine cashmere, silk, camel and baby alpaca and it feels like … joy and gratitude and unconditional love. This yarn is seriously stashable, but even more knittable! Two skeins makes a Cowl (see above).

  • 10% cashmere, 15% silk, 10% camel, 65% baby alpaca
  • 50g/145m (159yds)
  • 3.25mm/US3 to 3.5mm/US4 needles
  • 24 to 26 sts = 4″/10cm
  • ​Sport weight
  • Hand wash, lay flat to dry
  • Made in the UK
  • See other peoples Projects
  • See pattern ideas

FINISHED Two Hats (Beloved & Antler)

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With the holidays coming up I’m going to try to focus on smaller projects that make great gifts (hats, cowls, scarves, slippers, sockies, mitts, leg-warmers, etc). What are you making for the holidays this year? I received a reprieve this year, only one hand knit required, so I’m developing my self-love and making myself some new leg-warmers and a new sweater made with the new Fibre Co. Cumbria. I’m looking forward to sharing that project with you, the results so far are great – I’ve gone off-book and am trying a new experiential experiment with it, fingers crossed!

Beloved

I was originally thinking of using a sightly heavier yarn for this, some Cascade Eco+ Merino that was leftover from our Felix Pullover, but I kind of wanted to experiment and see what the hat would be like with Drops Air, a lighter, airier yarn. I think it made for a really nice fall hat or something for people who have a lot of hair. Now that I’m sitting down and giving it another thought, I’m having a “what were you thinking?!” moment and realize that it would look sensational made with the Malabrigo Mecha (smack forehead). Thankfully, there’s always another hat on the horizon! It would be interesting to make the same hat over & over in different yarns and see how they turn out …. maybe that will happen some day, when I’m no longer a person with a DaVinci-esque attention span (he was notorious for not finishing his work, once DaVinci solved a puzzle he lost interest and moved on).

Notes

If you mke a pompom for this hat, don’t kill yourself making it dense. I did, I got all perfectionisty and packed it tightly, which made it look smooth and dense. Unfortuantely, this made it smooth and dense. This hat looks great with a “hand-made” looking pompom, and light and airy is definitely better. If you like a tight pompom, go for a smaller size pompom maker, like the yellow one from clover.

Design Hack: Want a quick pick-me-up for a dull hat? Add a fur pom-pom or a hand made pompom in a contrasting colour!

Materials

Antler

Another experiment with Drops Air, Antler turned out super light and cozy. Like, super-duper light and cozy. I just tried it on, and it’s so cozy that I’d kinda like to crawl into a matching onesie made with the same yarn … that would be quite a sight, quite possibly the ultimate in ‘cocooning’ (something to think about for halloween next year). I’ve completely lost my train of thought … that’s how cozy it feels!!! Oh yeah, wear it with your Infinitude cowl, you’ll never want to take your outerwear off.

Notes

We made the brim of our hat short so it can be worn like a slouch, but it was designed with more ribbing and you can take it either way, depending on what looks nice on you.

Materials

  • 1 skein Drops Air
  • 4mm/US6 – 16″ circular needles
  • 5mm/US8 – 16″ circular needles
  • 5mm/US8 double pointed needles
  • cable needle/hook
  • tapestry/darning needle
  • FREE Pattern

NEW Free Pattern Slouchy Angora Hat

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Slouchy Angora Hat

This is a pattern I came up with YEARS ago, but I don’t seem to have ever published it to Ravelry. I came across this utterly DIVINE yarn, Phildar Pur Angora, and I had to buy it, and then of course had to make something with it … so the old Slouchy Angora Hat pattern came out. I’ve re-edited and made some updates to the pattern.

The hat is a basic, slouchy toque. You can wear it with the brim turned up and wear it as a watch-cap, down and slouchy, or turn the brim under and wear it as a beanie. It’s pure angora, it does all the work! It is knit with 2 strands held together, in our sample we used one strand of black and one of the lighter grey, Perle, to create a marled effect. If that feels a little busy for you try using two strands of the same colour and make it a dense and delicious colour.

The yarn is just so gorgeous and precious! I hold it and I’m like “Oh hello you beautiful thing!”, and then I start talking to it like it’s a baby with the fattest thighs I’ve ever seen. I like using different kinds of yarns, and once in a while using something and precious special REMINDS me that I’m special and precious (it seems like the further we get from that yummy baby fat the less we receive that kind of honour, so I undertake it myself).

Please note … I am currently wearing the hat (brim turned under) and I’m not sure if it is influencing my writing, but I think that if it *is* inspiring me to love myself and treat myself well then it qualifies as an EXTRA-successful project, regardless of any of it’s other properties. Thanks to Erika for making the sample, it’s my new thinking cap!

Brim turned under

Size

  • S(M, L)
  • Finished Circumference: 17(19, 20.5)”
  • To approximately fit head circumference: 21(22, 23)”

Materials

  • (2, 2) Phildar Pur Angora (25g,109m/123yds, 100% Angora)
  • 4.5mm/US7 (5mm/US8, 5mm/US8)-16” circular needles
  • 4.5mm/US7 (5mm/US8, 5mm/US8) double pointed needles
  • Darning/Tapestry Needle
  • 1 stitch marker
  • FREE Pattern

Conclusions & A Question

I’m definitely going to have to make a little beret and maybe a matching neck thing with this yarn!

I also have an open ended mindfullness question for those of you who practice such things …. if you work on a project, and the entire time you are making it you intentionally think of about how precious you are (or whatever you choose), will you feel those emotions every time you wear the finished garment? Has anyone ever tried this? What would you call the practice? How did it turn out? …. It’s pretty clear to me at this point that I’m going to have to try it and share. 🙂

COMPLETED The Ride for Heart

The Ride For Heart

I just wanted to thank all of the people who donated to my fundraising bike ride for the Heart and Stroke Foundation. You are both very kind and generous, and your support means the world to me!

FYI, we were supposed to do the 25km ride, but we just kept going and scored ourselves an extra 25km … I’m a little tender in the posterior, but I totally earned my donations this year! If you wanted to donate but didn’t get around to it it isn’t too late – my brother is only $12 ahead of me, I think that needs to be rectified …

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PROJECT Great Hera + The Ride for Heart

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Me & my father at the half-way point on a particularly wet & cold Ride for Heart.

Ride for Heart

Some of you already know that every year I do a charity bike ride with my father. This year I managed to drag my BROTHER along, so all three of us are riding 25km up, and then back down the Don Valley Parkway (a local highway).

Anyway, the purpose of the even, besides getting out of the house and getting some exercise, is to rise funds for the Canadian Heart and Stroke association, who does A LOT of important work helping EVERYONE improve their cardiac health (after all, scientific research has no borders). According to an article in the news yesterday women are TWICE as likely to die from a heart attack than men. This is NOT GOOD, because I know from computery data stuff that 95% of the people reading this are WOMEN! Sure, I’ve got a vested interested in keeping you alive, many of you reading this are my clients, but I also feel strongly that the world needs women, as many as it can get. And as women, we deserve to be strong, healthy, and happy.

So not only am I going to ask you to donate to my ride for heart, but I’m going to ask you to write to your own Heart Health organization and ask them to fund research into women’s cardiac health (if you are Canadian it is the Heart and Stroke Foundation, if you are in the United States I believe it is the American Heart Association). 

Thank You SO MUCH!  ~ Haley

P.S. They symptoms of heart attack in women are often different than those seen in men. Women can have chest symptoms (the ‘Hollywood’ clutching of the chest & sweating), or any of the following:

  • profound nausea and vomiting with palpitations
  • lightheadedness
  • extreme fatigue
  • discomfort in the neck, jaw, shoulder, arms or back

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WW HAT COMBO

Great Hera!

Since I’ve been talking about women’s health, who better to invoke than the head amazon herself, Wonder Woman. I’ve actually seen this hat in the wild, on some dude in the subway, and it was AWESOME. Sure, you can still wear your Pussy Hat to protests, but sometimes you want something a bit dressier for your day-to-day lady needs. The pattern isn’t free, but it’s only $3, which I don’t begrudge to have someone else do the work of charting the symbol.

To make things easier, I’ve pulled all the suitable colours off the shelf and come up with colour combinations that work well together (you can never really tell online which shades are actually going to look good). I personally like a darker, more sombre colour combo with a dark red, gold and blue, but I know that everyone has different Wonder Woman Toque needs, so I chose colours that were both thematically on cue and look great together. By the way, if this project appeals to you, you might want to bookmark or Pinterest this post for future reference – you’ll want to revisit the colour numbers!

Since this is such a cool project, and it is in honour of a charitable fundraising endeavour, we’re offering a one time discount of 10% Off Online orders of the yarns we think will work best (discount is applicable to all colours, you can have your order shipped or choose to order online and pick-up your order in store): Use code WONDERHAT at checkout.

Needles & Notions

Yarn Options

I recommend the following yarns and colour combinations to make this project WONDERful!

1. Cascade 220 Superwash

Cascade 220 Superwash is a soft, machine washable, 100% Peruvian wool, it comes in a bunch of colours, and the price is very reasonable. You’ll need 1 skein in each colour plus optional 1 ball for pom-pom in colour 817 Aran:

2. Berrocco Vintage

Berrocco Vintage is a super soft, machine washable blend of wool and synthetic, and the price is right at $9.97/skein. You’ll need 1 skein in each colour, plus optional 1 skein for pom-pom in colour 5101 Mochi:

  • Clear Colours Combo: 5150 Berries, 5121 Sunny, 5143 Dark Denim
  • Medium Combo: 5181 Black Cherry Heather, 5127 Butternut, 5143 Dark Denim
  • Dark Combo: 5181 Black Cherry Heather, 5192 Chana Dal Heather, 51182 Indigo Heather

3. Malabrigo Rios

Malabrigo Rios is a hand dyed, SUPER soft, machine washable merino wool, and while the price point is higher at $23.97/skein, comparable hand dyed merino yarns tend to run north of $30/skein. You’ll need 1 skein in each colour, plus optional 1 skein of off-white for pom-pom in Manos Alegria Grande in AG2800:

  • Brighter Combo: 611 Ravelry Red, 96 Sunset, 415 Matisse Blue
  • Medium Combo: 611 Ravelry Red, 96 Sunset, 150 Azul Profundo
  • Dark Combo: 33 Cereza, 96 Sunset, 150 Azul Profundo (the dye lot of 33 is darker than the picture)

WW HAT COMBO

FREEBIES Last Minute Gifts

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 Believe it or not, you’ve still got a little bit of time to get a project done.   I suggest making something small and simple, knit with super bulky yarn, and your last minute gift’s in the bag!

Photo: dandiliongrl

Avery Slouch Hat

 Keep it simple silly! Hats are fast & easy last minute gifts, and this one is almost brainless – no purling!

Yarn Options

If you want a marled look like in the photo, use 2 strands of different coloured bulky weight yarn held together:

Materials

  • FREE Pattern
  • 10mm/US15-16″ circular needles
  • 10mm/US15 double pointed needles
  • jumbo tapestry/darning needle
  • jumbo stitch marker

 

Twistin the Night Away

Headbands are fast & easy, and always well received (especially by people with big hair).

Yarn Options

Materials

 

 

Red Hot Neckwarmer

A neckwarmer is a perfect gift for men and women, in a cold climate everyone can use one – and on those blustery days that you do need one, they’ll be thanking you!

Yarn Options

Materials

  • FREE Pattern
  • 10mm/US15-16″ circular needles
  • tapestry needle

FREEBIE & KNIT HACK & Restocked Fleece Artist Merino 2/6

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Fleece Artist Merino 2/6 is a soft, 100% Merino wool hand-dyed fingering weight yarn from Canada. It makes beautiful socks and shawls, or any other kind of project you can think of!

No two skeins are exactly alike, so if you are working on a project that uses more than one skein we suggest you work with 2 skeins and alternate strands every other row to assure an even distribution of colour. Colours tend to be variegated or semi solid.

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Shop Online Button Turquoise 250w

 

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Photos: Myknits & misstinkett

Sockhead Slouch Hat

 

 

Turkish Bed Socks

 

Hitchiker

 

Knit Hack

If you are having a hard time with the colours in a hand-painted or variegated yarn pooling you can try changing up your pattern in a few ways:

  • Garter Stitch:  the colour distribution of variegated yarns tends to be great in garter.
  • 1 x 1 Rib:  a K1P1 rib tends to compress the textile and change the colour distribution.
  • Needle Size: change your tension by going up or down a needle size, sometimes as little as half a millimetre can make a big difference.

Rikke: Baby Style

Rikke Hat 
I made some quick Rikke Hats for my niece & nephew last fall, but getting pictures of those squirrely kids took substantially longer. Pictured above, Ben has adopted his as an inspiration cap, and wears it during his creative endeavours. 

The hat is very stretchy and elastic, a great garment that has grown with the kids! Also an added benefit, garter stitch is an excellent way to deal with yarns with colourways that pool.


Some Recent Store Samples

Veronica Slouch
This hat looks great, I’m so happy with hour it turned out. I think I’ll turn the buttons around, they’re a bit shiny for my taste. Liane says this pattern knit up beautifully in Berroco Vintage Chunky.





Felicity
I don’t think this hat is quite suited for me, but the yarn is GORGEOUS! 
  • FREE pattern via Ravelry
  • 1 skein Malabrigo Worsted, colour 626 navidad
  • 3.75m-16″ circular needles
  • 4.5mm-16″ circular needles + double pointed needles




Potrillo
I made this one for the hell of it – I think it would be great for people with big heads & lots of hair (dreads especially). The yarn is super-duper soft & airy – a very atypically friendly mohair. 
  • Pattern from Berroco no. 339
  • 1 skein Berroco Cirrus, colour 2510 grand canyon
  • 4.5mm-16″ circular needles
  • 6mm-16″ circular needles + double pointed needles



Basic Slouchy Hat
Liane whipped this simple hat up for our classes. 







Angora Toque

  • 2 skeins Schulana Angora Fashion
  • 5.5mm-16″ circular & double pointed needles
  • Pattern is published in Vogue Knitting Holiday 2008, the book Hattitude, and is available as a PDF download for $5. It’s a basic slouchy toque, you could use any pattern, I cast on 66 sts and knit it from the bottom-up – see my Ravelry notes. 





Luxair Autumn Leftovers
I really, really, really like this hat. It looks great on my little head and i think it’ll also look great on all sizes. It was easy, fast, and it looks great – I’m going to make it my go-to fall hat. The yarn is really cool, it has a core of silver wrapped in an outer layer of super soft cotton-candy-esque baby alpaca & merino. My photo does not do it justice.



You can find us at knitomatic.com!