Monday, March 28, 2011

Fornicating Reindeer Hat

It had to be at some point, that's for sure. My son requested this hat for himself. He almost never wants something knit from me, so I agreed happily, and went for yarn hunt in my stash.

Fornicating Reindeer Hat

chart: it's a free chart by Anne Rutten and you can find it here

pattern: no pattern, I just made it up as I went
yarn: discontinued Elann Peruvian Highland Sport (sad about the discontinue), it's great yarn, I used black (of course what else?) and light grey.
needles: 3.5mm
start-finish: March 17 - 21
mods: no mods regarding to the hat structure, but I did modify the chart, that is, the bottom pattern comes from "1000 Great Knitting Motifs" by Luise Roberts on page 103. Both my son and I didn't like the original base of the chart.

For this hat I did a SWATCH! I'm not a swatching girl, but this time, to get a good fit, it had to be a swatch first. Well, first I had to measure a head. I didn't like the plain ribbing I've seen others use for their hats, and I thought a folded hem would be nice. I'm pleased that by now as a knitter I'm good enough to make things without consulting books or patterns for everything. I've seen hems like that, but never knit one before.
The part which took the longest was picking up all those stitches from the provisional cast on. Black is not my favorite to knit with, but I like the finished product. I knit the stitches together, almost like a 3-needle bind off, but it left me with live stitches to go on.

Fornicating Reindeer Hat

The hat has been worn, and found warm and well fitting! Yippee! I was supposed to make another one in red and white, but I don't have those colors at hand, and I need a break from fair isle knitting. It's one thing to knit repeatable patterns like the bottom one, that's easy, but with the chart above, you have to look at every row, it's different every time, and there was A LOT of twisting, and untwisting, after each row. Anyway, I'm glad it turned out as well as it did.

I've seen the chart on mittens, and socks too. Just saying.... :o)

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16 comments:

Michelle said...

I keep asking Jon to let me knit this for him but he keeps saying no. :-( I love what you did for yours with the folded hem. Did you have any issues catching floats or those long spaces between motifs?

Anonymous said...

Jajajaja..It's nice!!!

Marissa said...

This pattern cracks me up! I have to hide it from the kids, so I don't have the nerve to knit it up, but it's too funny!

Zenitude said...

I've had request for my two guys to knit this hat as well. I love the motif you've knitted at the base of the chart and also your turned hem is a great idea! I will have to get going on mine now!

Virginia G said...

LOVE IT!

Awesome hat. :)

And this is the last title I expected to see in my blogroll today. Heh. Gave me a good giggle.

Katha said...

saw it on flickr and almost died of laughter =) genius..hihi

Susan said...

Snort! I hadn't seen this chart before so it cracked me up!

There is some discussion on Ravelry about whether the deer are gay because they both have antlers. The consensus is that if they're reindeer, not gay. If they're white-tailed deer, gay. Apparently female reindeer have antlers but white-tailed does don't.

Beverly said...

Too funny! It looks great and takes a lot of nerve to wear it.

Wanderingcatstudio said...

IT looks pretty cool.. I'm probably going to have to make one for my dad...

Alexandra said...

I love that pattern! :) The turned hem looks great!

Mr Puffy's Knitting Blog: said...

Boys will be boys - LOL You did a great job and I agree it's a slow go knitting fair isle but I have a hat and mittens I want to make.....

Sharon said...

LOL! Of all the things your son could have asked for, he asked for that hat! I'm glad you enjoyed knitting it for him and that he likes and wears the hat. That's true appreciation for your talent. What more could a knitter ask for?

2paw said...

I am not sure I can say this is lovely!! But it is beautifully executed and amusing!!

rosalia said...

So funny!!!

Catherine said...

Great. My boys are not fans of hand knits either but I think they would like this!

Laurie said...

LOVE it!! The hat is beautiful. I have to say I wouldn't have noticed the "action" if you hadn't mentioned it. I was too busy admiring the total hat. I might have to make a few of these just to see if anyone catches on. ;-)