Once, twice, three times a beanie (aka Goldilocks and the three beanies)
October 19th, 2010
A little while ago, I decided to knit a beanie as a gift for a friend. I had a hat’s worth of yarn in stash in a colour that suits her very well, so it seemed that fate had intervened and the project was obviously meant to be.
Initially I cast on for Porom. The twists looked a bit puffy, but mostly it looked good. That is, until I finished it and blocked it. What was once a nicely-sized slouchy beanie had turned into a perfectly good shopping bag, without handles.
Slightly disillusioned but as stubborn as ever, I ripped it back and reused the yarn in an Icing Swirl Hat. It soon became apparent that it was far too small. So again I ripped the hat back, and soaked the kinks out of yarn. The yarn was starting to lose its structural integrity by this stage, and my disillusionment was starting to grow. As was my stubbornness, for that matter.
I don’t have photographic evidence of either of those mishaps, which is quite fortunate as it means I’ll most likely remember that yarn as this beanie:
Anna Karenina by Veruschka Babuschka
Not very much Bendigo Woollen Mills Luxury 8ply, Cream
2.75mm and 3.25mm needles
Start: August 2010
Finish: August 2010
Modifications: different yarn
Ravelryed: here
The pattern hadn’t been long published when I knit this beanie up. It was a nice easy knit, with just enough variation to make it interesting. Having two beanie failures ended up being a blessing in disguise — of the three patterns, I think this one turned out the best and I’m really pleased with it.
This isn’t the first time I’ve used Luxury, but I must admit I’m a bit frustrated with it. While it’s a lovely soft yarn and comes in quite a few nice colours, it drops quite a lot after its first watch (see Porom). Sadly, I don’t think this is an uncommon problem. I had been planning to make a few bigger things using Luxury 4ply, but I am now a bit Luxury-shy.
Who would have thought all of this was down to not swatching? I tend to swatch for larger garments, but take for granted that for something relatively small, like a hat, would be ok without a test swatch. I have learnt my lesson.
October 20th, 2010 at 7:41 pm
A hat named Anna Karenina? Having just recently read and fallen in love with the book… i must have the hat! Shame shame about the yarn though, I think it ends up happening with a lot of luxury yarns. Pah. Hope you can still enjoy wearing it though.
October 20th, 2010 at 8:02 pm
Looks really cool !!! Love it !!!
October 21st, 2010 at 8:20 am
Oh I hear you on the Luxury. Grows like there’s no tomorrow doesn’t it! I crocheted a cardigan that grew by five inches!
Third time lucky though – that looks just lovely and reminds me to start thinking about hats as good christmas gifts. It just looks so nice in the cream!
October 21st, 2010 at 9:42 am
the finished product is truly lovely. and i know how soft that luxury is. but i will never ever knit with it again. its reaction to water is quite frightening, and it will not hold a shape. at all. shame really. glad you got a good result finally!
October 21st, 2010 at 11:36 am
Love the hat, it was worth going through the evolution process to get it :- )
February 14th, 2011 at 8:16 am
The beanie looks great.
That is the second time in two days that I have read that Luxury stretches with the first wash, a warning I am glad to have as I was considering using it to knit myself a jacket. I think I’ll wash the yarn before knitting then swatch.