Friday 27 January 2012

A Conversation Piece*

So, as you may have gathered from yesterday's post, I finished my fair isle hat *grins* And it was fair easier than I expected.


I utilised boyfriend's wooden head to show it off, so much easier than trying to take pictures of my own head *laughs*

Although the pattern is for a tam shaped hat, as you can see, I have left it as a beanie shape. This is partly because it came out quite small and I thought it might look silly trying to be a tam, but mostly because I am not entirely convinced that the tam is a good shape for me ;)

This does mean that the crown isn't quite as striking as it might be, but I think it still looks really cool:


I'm really happy with my first try at colourwork, it went much smoother than I expected, no tangles or tantrums or anything *laughs* Here's a larger version of the close-up from yesterday, and I'm really impressed with how even it looks (I was expecting it to come out all lumpy and bumpy!)



So, details:

Pattern: Tam #3 from Three Tams
Yarn: cream - Lamb's Pride Worsted, coloured - Knit One Crochet Two Paintbox (the coloured yarn was slightly disappointing, the colour changes are a little muddy and it felt like it might disintegrate in my hands a few times) But as a finished project it did use up a ball and a half from stash ;)
Modifications: just the shape, and a small error in following the chart at one point

Other: you might be able to see from the pictures that I did manage to get the ribbing completely wrong. I followed the first line of the pattern, to set up the colour pattern (alternate knit stitches of each colour) but managed to skip the next instruction which was the knit the main colour and purl the contrast. So, my ribbing is not so much ribbing. Ooops ;) Luckily it looks cute slightly rolled up anyway *laughs*

Of course, using a wooden head for the pictures is effective, but gives you no indication of how it actually looks on my head... So I managed a slightly awkward and badly lit shot just for you guys *smiles*


See, it fits!


It's Friday, you know what to do by now... Visit Tami'sNatural Suburbia and Wisdom Begins in Wonder. Have a great weekend



*"I can wear a hat or take it off, but either way it's a conversation piece" - Hedda Hopper

54 comments:

  1. LOVE IT!! You make me want to do colourwork. Beautiful hat.

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  2. Natalie--It's WONDERFUL...congratulations!!!
    ...and so much better to have used boyfriend's wooden head for display,
    than 'wooden boyfriend's' head!! Giggle.
    Is your boyfriend an artist, too?!?!
    Hugs--

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  3. Well done, it looks great. What a useful wooden head to have lying around. It looks much more arty than my polystyrene one!

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  4. It is wonderful and you inspired me so much yesterday that I was looking at patterns to try it too!
    Very nice wooden head, but seeing it on you is so much better.
    Have a lovely weekend.

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  5. LOVE how that hat turned out. I really need to get over my fear of colorwork because a whole new world of patterns would open up to me. I love your self-portrait wearing the hat.

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  6. Your tension looks beautiful! Well done! Looks great on you too!

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  7. What a gorgeous hat! You are so clever!
    Thank you for linking to Creative Friday:)

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  8. Excellent! You did a great job. It looks super cute on too:)

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  9. Good job! I've tried Fair isle a couple of times, the first time knitting an easter egg and that turned out fine, the second was a top with some cool skull pictures on it and I totally messed it up. It's waiting to be frogged :(

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  10. Lovely hat, very pretty pattern and well done. The hat looks great on you too!

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  11. Gorgeous! Love it as a beanie rather than a tam, I am always confused as to how a tam is meant to stay on your head!

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  12. It looks great on you! I have yet to try any colourwork, it's on my to do list :-P with a million other things haha

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  13. Congratulations on your first color work. It looks great on you. The rolled edge looks meant to be and it fits great. I agree, tams look good on wooden heads and models. Not so sure about most real people.

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  14. I love it! Well done!

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  15. You did a great job! Your colorwork is very impressive. And it fits, so yay!

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  16. The hat is wonderful. I would never have guessed that it was your first colorwork project!

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  17. this was your fist colorwork???? That is an awesome hat! Love it!

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  18. Oh lovely! Great first time colourwork!

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  19. that hat is gorgeous! love it! now where can i get a wooden head?!? i so want one! :o)

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  20. You look so darn cute in your new colorwork hat!!!! You did a fantabulous job :)

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  21. Nice hat. I especially like the view from above.

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  22. I really like that it came out more like a hat than a tam, after all more people will be to appreciate the pattern. And oh, that wooden head!! What a great tool to have around for displaying knit items!

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  23. It looks fabulous!!! So well done :)

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  24. Yippee! It's beautiful. Isn't fair isle addictive? I can't quite put it down myself. Enjoy your new hat -- it looks lovely on you!

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  25. Great hat! Guess you'll give mittens a try now??
    Have a great weekend!

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  26. The first thing I thought when I saw it was that I loved the crown actually! I wouldn't have known without reading it that you had altered it at all!! woot! Awesome work :)

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  27. Ooh, that is so pretty! It looks great as a beanie, really suits you. I find colourwork oddly addictive, I especially like seeing all the nice neat strands running across the back of the work :)

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  28. Great hat!! I can't believe it's your first fair isle project - it looks very professional and comfy to boot :o)

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  29. Wow, your first fair isle?? That is amazing!! I want to do fair isle this year but I'm not convinced it will be as good as yours!

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  30. I love it! I have been admiring tams but also avoiding them b/c I think they'd look stupid on me (aside from not being so good at stranded knitting). I never would have thought to just convert them to beanies. I think the crown on yours looks fabulous!

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  31. Beautiful! I'm so impressed that this is your first attempt at colorwork...and that you didn't find it too difficult! I tried it once and decided I might need professional guidance for my next piece :)

    Nice work!

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  32. It looks amazing, and it really suits you!

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  33. Bravo! I love colorwork myself, great job!

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  34. Easier than you thought, eh? But that leaves the question open - how do you think? Are you as cowardly as I am? If you are, then I take heart. Maybe I could do one, too. Maybe.

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  35. It looks superb, gorgeous hat and well done on your first colourwork. The rolled edge is cute, think of it as a unique detail :)

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  36. The hat looks fantastic! I love colour work too, it was much easier than I expected as well :)

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  37. Love that hat. Especially the snowflake on top.

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  38. you did a great job! I love your pattern and color choices =D

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  39. Super cute! I love color work hats. They're a great way to show off your skills.

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  40. Just catching up with your posts and all the wonderful things you have done. The hat looks fantastic. I think the adaptation from a tam (limited wearability) just absolutely makes it desirable.

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  41. Love your hat! It looks so complicated in the patterning...good job! And it looks really cute on you too!!! Love!

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  42. Wow - that is fabulous! Very awesome job!!

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  43. Your first fair isle project turned out wonderful! It looks great as a beanie.

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Hi, thanks for letting me know you stopped by :D