At least three months back, now, I saw a knitted hat that was posted on another blog -- a toque, in my Canadian mind, is what I call it. So I made one and I sent it off to my brother as a Christmas gift. Then, a few days latter (mid December) my friend Doris showed me a toque, that she had decided to make, inspired from the one I had done -- except Doris went out and bought a really lovely yarn and the toque ( she actually has made 8 !) is improved upon. The one I saw on the internet was a single rib all the way up for 11", then gathered at the top and a pompom added. When I made my version, I did the same, and it turned out very nice -- well, I think so anyway.
Next Doris saw the toque and decided that a double rib, with a stockinette stitch at the top and decreases spaced around the hat would give it a better shape. So, I tried that version, but my stockinette stitch at the top was done only for a few rows, and I think, even though Doris said it is an interesting way of doing it, I don't feel that it was quite right -- so back to the drawing board, as they say.
Doris' version motivates me. Doris also purchased a completely different yarn, that I couldn't see the potential of, until I saw her versions using a chunky yarn called Charisma a Loops and Threads yarn available at Micheals Stores.
It is just amazing how a thing develops and grows! Amazing too, is the inspiration that one feels when such a simple thing takes hold.
So, finally, I am working on my fourth version of this toque -- I also made one in a chocolate brown, that is for a small head, perhaps it will get sent to a nephew?
I am really loving the way this yarn creates stripes around the toque, the photo shows only about 5 inches, so there is a few hours left to see how it grows. An old craft, of which I am having to relearn those basics, brought back and worked on and experimented with, makes life so much more interesting than always continuing to do what you know already. I love to learn, or re-learn new things. Don't you?
