When I began this Fringe Hatalong Series of occasional hat knitalongs, I didn’t intend for it to become a progressive class in knitting techniques — I just wanted it to be stuff I was dying to knit! Turns out what I’m dying for is a full range of knitting experiences, to keep my queue from getting stagnant in any way. So we’ve gone from the simple knits-and-purls of Audrey to the clever stitch trick in L’Arbre to a simple bit of lace in Hermaness Worsted, and now No. 4 is a little taste of colorwork! So it’s inadvertently turning into a survey course, and I’m so thrilled to see so many knitters of every skill level jumping in, with lots of people expanding their skills along the way.
So yes: colorwork is next. I’ll tell you that it’s a brand-new pattern written just for us and it will be published here on the blog next Thursday, August 20th. Just like with the lace in Hermaness Worsted, I’ll have plenty of guidance for you if this is your first time. And because it’s a mostly solid hat with just a little bit of colorwork, it’s a particularly great place to start. Remember, it’s just stockinette in the round! You can do it.
Yardage: The pattern is written for three sizes (18-3/4″, 20″, 21-1/4″) and two heights (7″ fitted and 8.5″ slouchy). Depending which size and style you go with, you’ll need between 90 and 135 yards of your main color plus 16-20 yards of your contrast color. So it’s a good stash-buster.
Recommended yarn: The pattern is written for Quince and Co’s Lark yarn, which is a gorgeous, smooth, 4-ply, worsted-weight, American wool. It’s got excellent stitch definition (thanks to the smoothness and the plies), which makes it great for colorwork as well as lace and stitch patterns. It’s also really reasonably priced, available at a bunch of great stores (the ones with the orange triangle symbol at that link) plus directly from Quince, and offers tons of great colors to choose from. The samples are knitted in Marsh and Bird’s Egg. I have three skeins I’m trying to decide between, pictured above — Marsh and Egret? Kumlien’s Gull and Marsh? Egret and Kumlien’s Gull? Haven’t decided yet.
Stash-diving guidance: As I said, this is a good stash-buster, so if you’re stash diving, just look for a worsted-weight yarn with the same qualities as Lark: smooth and neatly plied.
Whatever yarn you go with, make sure to choose two colors with enough contrast for the colorwork motif to stand out.
If you’re an old hand at colorwork, you’ll very likely want to whip out more than one of this darling hat. And if you’ve never tried it before, we’ll all be here to hold your hand! But in the meantime, spend a few minutes reading this past post of mine: Colorwork for first-timers. Everybody excited? The big reveal next Thursday—
I better hurry up and finish my Hermaness!
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PREVIOUSLY in Fringe Hatalong Series: A handful (or two) of Hermaness Worsted
I’m so excited! I was looking on ravelry yesterday for a simple color work hat.
I just finished my Hermaness this week. I love color work!
Relaxation with a new skill? Just what the dr ordered for after my son’s week o’wedding. So happy at the timing – thank you!!!!
Yay! So excited. I have knitted every hat so far and appreciate the different skills required for each. I’ve been meaning to try color work and Lark. This is the perfect opportunity. Thank you so much for this series! And thank you for your blog posts. I look forward to them every week day.
I think I’ll join you!
Do you know what size needle is required? Thank you. Can’t wait to see the pattern and join in.
I can’t wait. Maybe I will finally be able to make good use of my remaining bit of Rios, now to find a bit of stash that will combine with the wonderful Azules blue. I love this Hatalong series, thank you Karen.
I’m super excited about this one! I’ve done color work exactly once in my life, and it was pretty rough. Time to see what yarns I have or if I’ll have to buy more! I don’t have much of a stash.
I think I’ve only done it twice!
So exciting to see what this one will be! I have just started a colour work project and am learning how to knit with one colour in each hand. I normally knit continental style and find flicking (?) a bit tricky. Lets just say that my swatch was massive before I felt confident enough to start the actual project…
Have you tried holding both yarns in your left hand?
That’s how I’ve previously done it (that is, twice), but I found that I kept mucking up which was the dominant colour by twisting the strands over my finger.
I think the two hand could be a winner if I can just avoid knitting so tightly with my right hand.
Having said that, in between this comment and my last one I frogged the whole thing and started over. Pattern related mistake, but still – an omen?
If it’s comfortable for you to hold both yarns in your left hand you could try using a stranding guide, like one of these, to keep the yarns in place: http://www.knitpicks.com/cfSearch/Search.cfm?q=stranding+guide
That is really neat! I will have to give that a try. Thank you!
I usually knit with my left index finger touching the needle, so I imagine some adjustments would have to be done to my technique – something I mainly get more exited about the more comfortable I get with my knitting :)
I’m so excited to join in for the first time! I just knit my first hat this week and now I really understand why you like them so much – quick, satisfying, and a great way to learn new skills. I also have two skeins of Lark that I’ve been struggling to put to use. It’s so great that you organize these, thank you!
p.s. I noticed that I’m one of two Olivias who comment here so I’m adding my instagram name to avoid confusion!
Perfect!! I have a 2 skeins of black lark and tons of scant leftovers!! I will have so much fun deciding on a color combo…
I have a skein of black on the way!
ooh, excited to pick out yarns and actually join in on this one! I like the top combo best — good contrast!
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