If you share my love of knitting, then you may also share the need to cast on projects that aren’t quite indicative of the current season. As a resident of the state of Florida, the choice to knit a fisherman’s hat for my husband was (obviously) not the result of a cold head in the middle of July.
Instead, the choice stemmed from carrying around a single ball of black acrylic yarn that my husband chose over two years ago! The yarn purchase, another Hobby Lobby Yarn Bee selection based on convenience, was destined to become a hat then, when we lived in a state with four established seasons. The yarn made it through the cross-state move, and without another project tempting me, I decided it finally deserved its moment.
Of course, the need for such a winter hat will be rare in Florida. But, truthfully, I haven’t made anything for my husband other than washcloths and soap savers. So, I stuck with the original plan of turning the black yarn into a head-warming (maybe heart-warming too!) gift for him.
I’ve actually already finished this hat, thanks to some weekend UFC watching with my husband and a simple pattern. I love a quick win, but now, this winter cap must settle in for a long summer’s nap while we wait for some cold weather to appear.
Just like any project that I gift to someone, I am conscientious of the energy that I am infusing into the finished fabric. The 1×1 ribbing of this hat gave a lot of repetition to sink into, and I love that this gift is infused with a sense of peace and harmony (oh, and maybe some strength and perseverance, inspired by the grit of MMA fighters) for my husband to “feel” when wearing the hat, sometime in the distant future.
Project Details
Yarn: Yarn Bee Soft Stitch | Hobby Lobby (Possibly Discontinued)
Color: Black
Weight: 4 – Worsted
Content: 100% Acrylic
Final Thoughts:
To be honest, I’m not sure what made my husband select this particular yarn. We had gone to Hobby Lobby for cotton yarn, and this was a side quest for future projects. I didn’t know it would take 2 years for me to get around to it. I can’t find the exact “Soft Stitch” yarn anymore, but it seems like the Soft & Sleek line is the present-day equivalent. In general, I did not enjoy knitting with this yarn, but yet again, I’m happy enough with the final result for the yarn price. It feels thick and spongey, and I know the hat will last through lots of washes and wears.
Pattern: Classic Ribbed Hat: Free Hat Knitting Pattern
Modifications: Substituted Yarn
Size: Adult Medium
I used a pattern to give me a basic idea for the number of stitches to cast on and for when to start the crown decreases. The free PurlSoho pattern was easy to follow for this head start and saved me any math. I should have done a gauge swatch, but the stretchy 1×1 ribbing was forgiving enough to overcome my laziness. This classic pattern is really a staple, so I know I’ll come back to it for a reminder of the basics.
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