Project Notebook: Insta-Hat

Here’s another fun project I picked up from spending way too much time on Instagram (I’d love you to follow me there, if you want!). Just after Christmas, Lee Meredith, also known as leethalknits, released a mystery knitalong project known as the Insta-hat.

The pattern uses bulky yarn and strategically slanted decreases paired with yarn overs to make a sort of zigzag texture across the hat.

It offers three sizes depending on the amount of slouch you want.

I went wild on this one and did not knit a gauge swatch (gasp!) and didn’t use the size needles the pattern called for (double gasp!) and it still came out just fine. Knitting is magical sometimes.

I knit the medium size on size 11 needles, and it’s not all that slouchy though it is a little long. I sometimes fold the brim up when I wear it for extra warmth and less slouch.

You can find the links for each step of the pattern — there are only four and it took me less than a day to knit — linked on Ravelry.

Did you knit an Insta-hat or would you like to? I’d love to hear about it!

What’s on or recently off your needles?

Next Pattern:

The other day I saw a post from Pinterest about trends for summer and it said one of them was “cultivating whimsy.”

Well, I don’t know where Pinterest has been all this time, but we’ve been cultivating whimsy here at Craft Gossip for a long time. I love sharing projects that are a little different, things that make you smile when you see them, and will make you smile when you knit them and wear them or use them.

Such it is with the Tutti Frutti tee knitting pattern from Bea Creative Knits.

This cute little baby tee is worked top down in the round with contiguous shoulder construction to shape the sleeve caps. There are short rows for the neckline and folded hems with picot edging at the hemline, neckline and edges of the sleeves.

All of this would be great on its own, but then there’s the addition of a super cute fruit icon, which is added with duplicate stitch. There are a lot of options, including strawberry, banana, orange, cherries, watermelon, lemon, blueberries, kiwi, peach, dragon fruit, apple and pear, so it’s likely you can add on your favorite fruit.

It is offered in eight sizes, to fit a bust measurement ranging from 28-30 inches (71-76 cm) to 56-58 inches (142-147 cm). The design is meant to be worn with around 6.3 inches/16 cm of negative ease, but you can choose the fit you prefer. There’s also optional bust and waist shaping included in the pattern if you want to make it even curvier.

This is considered an advanced beginner or intermediate project because of all the skills involved, but it’s sure to be a lot of fun even if some of these techniques are new to you.

Grab a copy of the pattern for yourself form Bea Creative Knits on Etsy.

[Photo: Bea Creative Knits]

Next Pattern:

Have you read?