Knitted Ballcap

This is a work in progress, but I have to share this idea for using that stiff Hemp yarn.

I've searched for years for a hat pattern that my husband might wear. So far the only thing that's been usable is a headband, but I'm not giving up.

I do so pity him in his baseball cap in the winter, especially since his hair is *cough*thinning*cough*.

I have to think outside of my box. Something in a yarn I would never put on my head, in a color I would never put on anywhere, that's how different our tastes and needs are.

So I've chosen the Hemp DK yarn by Lanaknits in a charcoal color. Dark gray, stiff - he just might wear it.

I'm knitting the cap like I do a watch cap ala EZ (Elizabeth Zimmerman), her Prime Rib stitch, just because it is so extremely elastic and forgiving if you don't have the size just right. Knitted in hemp, very tightly because I'm using size 3 needles instead of the size 5 recommended for the yarn, gives me exactly the texture I think will be wearable and durable.

So I follow her hat pattern, knitting it up without any allowance for turning up the edge, and then it's time for the brim. I could not for the life of me figure out how to knit the brim and have it be stiff enough. I finally decided to take a brim out of an old hat and use it for a pattern. I cut one to match out of plastic needlework canvas.

Finally, the brainstorm for how to knit the hat brim. I channeled EZ. She reminded me, rather sternly, that of course we want to knit in the round. Make it like a sock toe!

Now, back in article #41 I gave you the url of a page with lots of sock toe options.

Was it Forrest Gump who said "simple is as simple does" or did I just make that up? At any rate, that's my motto. On the sock toe page, the first option, "Joan's Favorite Toe", fits my purposes just fine. Others swear by the short row, knitting from the toe up method. That one works very well when knitting a sock for someone who can try it on as you go.

I prefer simply knitting a little bag in the round for my hat brim, "trying it on" and adjusting the shaping to fit my brim exactly. Obviously the decrease rounds will need to be further apart for a rounder, less pointed brim than the picture of the sock.

I'll let you know if this hat ever gets worn. Hey, I'll wear it if he doesn't!

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