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Friday, December 17, 2010

FO: Selbu Modern

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Pattern: Selbu Modern by Kate Gagnon Osbourne

Yarn:
The yarn I used was some old, discontinued fingering weight that claims to be Schaffhouser Wolle Mona - but yarn by that name in the ravelry database is clearly different yarn. I found it in Lewiscraft while they were going out of business, and excited about the cheapness bought skeins of light pink, magenta/fuschia, and green. I dyed some of the obnoxious magenta with Wiltons Royal Blue icing dye, and it turned a lovely Western purple.

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Notes:
I used 2.75 mm needles throughout, not bothering with smaller needles for the ribbing. This turned out bigger and slouchier than I thought it would; notes from many projects on ravelry suggested the hat usually runs small. However, I didn't swatch, so I only have myself to blame.

Knitting this took me ages. AGES. I started in September and only finished this week. There are many reasons for this, but the biggest is that I didn't work on it very often because I never printed out the pattern. Only working on the project while near the computer is, it turns out, a terrible idea for me because the internet is so distracting. Haha. Lesson learned. I'm also pretty slow at colourwork and it wears out my hands if I do too much at once. Case in point: when I got to the decreases and saw the end in sight, I worked furiously, and couldn't knit for days afterwards. Bad idea: will not push myself like this again.

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I like the result, but I have mixed feelings about wearing it. The pattern is so beautiful, and I've admired it for a long time, but when I put it on I immediately felt ridiculous. My desire to knit the pattern quashed any inkling I might have had that hats of this style don't really suit me. The crease from blocking it on a plate makes it stick out in a weird way on my head, and I felt like this hat could be high maintenance. If I have to stand in front of a mirror and mess with it before leaving the house, it might not be worth wearing.

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Then I got stubborn and decided to wear the hat anyway, even if I look stupid, and after wearing it for a few days I feel much better about it. Still, I might steer clear of slouchy hats for a while.

Check out more Friday FOs at Tami's Amis!

13 comments:

  1. I always feel the same way about hats -- I think they look great on everyone else and stupid on me. I'm trying to write it off as a character flaw. This hat, incidentally, looks fantastic on you and you should wear it with pride. It's lovely!

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  2. It definitely suits you! Don't fear the slouch embrface it!

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  3. Great job. I really love the colors. I have a bunch of magenta yarn I've been over dying with blue dyes.

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  4. Beautiful. I think it actually looks great from the back with your long hair, and in front it brings out the color of your eyes. I cast on for a Selbu a while back and then put it aside to knit Christmas presents. Your photos make me want to get it back out.

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  5. Beautiful! It definitely suits you. Selbu is on my to-do list.

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  6. I think the hat is fantastic and it looks great on you! I am self-conscious about hats too, but spending so much time and effort on making one is good motivation to wear it with attitude!

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  7. The hat is beautiful and also on you. Wear it and be proud. It does look great!

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  8. Looking stupid is a matter of perspective. I think it looks fab, and you should definitely show it off!

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  9. I agree, I think it looks wonderful and really suits you. The colours are gorgous and I am in awe of your colourwork skills

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  10. I think it looks great! The colors make the pattern pop really nicely, and the shape is perfect. The Selbu Modern I'm knitting seems to be coming along super slowly but you've given me inspiration to keep going! : )

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  11. It's too cute on you, and the colorwork is awesome. I know exactly what you mean about slouchy hats though...but trust me, it looks great!

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  12. Wow, that hat is awesome! You should be proud of it. It looks great on you!

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  13. I know a lot of people feel the same way about slouchy hats, but I personally *love* them.

    If its the crease that's bothering you, re-block it over a nice, round bowl, that's what I do :) No creases and a wonderful slouch

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