Bayberry

Last week I posted about my knitting slump, and how a beautiful ball of yarn and an interesting stitch broke me out of it. In the last week I finished up a hat using this yarn and stitch pattern, and I wanted to show it here. I’m calling it “Bayberry” because the beautiful soft greens and rusts remind me of bayberry leaves against the cool blues and whites of a winter snow.

I decided to break up the pattern a bit with a non-variegated yarn, so I used some Knit Picks Wool of the Andes Worsted in Pampas Heather (which I had left over from my Portree Poncho). The sage green picks up the greens in the Debbie Bliss Soho and adds a bit of interest to the pattern.

After the 2×2 rib, I worked several repeats of the star stitch in Soho and then 4 rounds of stockinette, and so forth. I worked the hat on a size US 7 needle (which is like a US 9 for most people), so even the worsted weight worked up to 18 sts/4″. I had to finagle the crown decreases a bit, but they seemed to work out well:

I am really pleased with this quick and simple project, and it was nice to take a break from pattern-writing and just create for a change. I think I’ll work up a matching set of fingerless mitts and get the items up for sale on Etsy. I’m also really happy to be moving out of my slump.

I brought up a beautiful DK alpaca/cotton blend in a deep forest green, and I already have a plan swirling around in my head. Right now I’ve ripped my cardigan to shreds and I’m reworking it so that it fits better. I’m also churning out a larger test size of it. More to come on that pattern soon!