Balmoral #4

**usonian** · 9th April 13, 07:07 PM

After messing up the dicing on number 3, another attempt with the Patons Classic Wool, 'Moss Heather' color, this time with black, natural, and muted red (another Patons color, I forget what it's called) dicing.

I'm very pleased with the hat itself, less so with the finishing touches - I overworked the notch in back something awful trying to sew the band around it (I still prefer to make the adjustment ties functional and omit the wide decorative ribbons.) It's also a little bit snug now that I've sewed the band on, but since I used cotton-rayon petersham instead of polyester grosgrain, there's a chance it will give a bit with wear.

Balmoral #4 by Usonian, on Flickr

Dicing detail by Usonian, on Flickr

**Aspiringloser** · 9th April 13, 07:20 PM

Good stuff!

**MrLion** · 9th April 13, 07:40 PM

I LIKE your work! Nicely done, sir. How long does it take to make one of those?
(the thinner my hair gets, the more I like hats)

**usonian** · 9th April 13, 07:43 PM

This one came together fairly quickly; I began it right around Mar. 31/April 1 and just finished it, and haven't been working on it every day.

**tulloch** · 10th April 13, 12:49 PM

Most impressive.

**ronin6290** · 10th April 13, 01:59 PM

I really like the heathered look of the yarn. Great color.

**fluter** · 11th April 13, 11:56 AM

That's a gorgeous color!

Originally Posted by usonian

This one came together fairly quickly; I began it right around Mar. 31/April 1 and just finished it, and haven't been working on it every day.

... he said modestly. If I recall correctly, mine had about 8800 stitches (in size large), so that may give would-be knitters an idea of the scope of the project. The knitting is not difficult at all.

**Old Hippie** · 11th April 13, 12:52 PM

Yer one of my heroes, man. I never thought I'd ever want to learn to knit but I'm heading out this afternoon to buy a Stitch 'n' Bitch book and stea....uhhh...borrow a couple of needles from She of Clan Comyn.

I went ahead and bought that balmoral pattern off Ravelry and ratholed it on my computer. I've also been likin' yer work on the Glengarry. Different look than the RandWulf sewed pattern I've been using, and I like it.

Should also shout out the other chaps here who knit and crochet as being good role models -- and what would our place here be like if we didn't recognize that all the ladies and gentlemen have set a pretty high tone?

Never thought I'd want to crochet, either, and started that after Mum died and I realized she wasn't gonna be making any more scrubbie pads for my kitchen.

Peace, y'all...

**creagdhubh** · 11th April 13, 12:56 PM

Wow! That looks great! Well done, mate.

Cheers,

**usonian** · 11th April 13, 12:58 PM

Oof, if I thought about a project in terms of individual stitches I'd never begin anything! I usually think of a project in stages; cast on, knit the band, do the increase row, knit the crown rows, knit the decrease rows. Broken down like that the steps are manageable, and gives you manageable goals; "just 5 more rounds until I can start decreasing!"