Murano Hat

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!!

I don’t know about you all, but I was SO ready to see this year go out the door. I’m really hoping 2021 will bring better days!

In an effort to start things out right, I decided to write up and release a new, free hat pattern in three sizes. Introducing: The Murano Hat!

The story of this hat begins in May of 2019 when I attended my very first Webs tent sale with my friend Tom. Digging through bins of delicious clearance yarns, I came across two hanks of Noro Hakone, a super bulky wool in bright, gradated colors. Like a lunatic, I shoved them into my giant cart, with absolutely no notion of what to do with them. I just loved the colors and the feel, so I had to bring them home with me (along with many other precious finds, but let’s let that be).

Into a storage bin they went, and there they sat for over a year. I love the look of hand-dyed yarn, but I never quite know what to do with it once it’s mine. But at the end of 2020, as I was digging through said bin, those hanks caught my eye again, and I was determined to make something from them. A simple hat seemed the way to go, and I decided to pair the Noro with a solid contrast yarn with lots of fluff to it. Out came a leftover ball of Knit Picks Wonderfluff (which I used to make my Eldfell)!

Next I had to come up with a stitch pattern. I tried out several slip stitch ideas, but none of them worked well, especially because the two yarns are two different weights (super bulky and Aran). After many swatches, I settled on a really simple stranded pattern.

With the pattern going, the hat was a really quick knit. I just needed to figure out the crown decreases, which were a little fiddly, and the hat was done! I loved the combination of gradated and fluffy solid, and the shimmery quality reminded me of blown Venetian glass. Hence the name Murano!

I had no intention of making a pattern for it, but I always take notes. And I did have 1.5 hanks left. So I worked out a larger size, and a smaller size, and then, well, why not write up the pattern?

And so, here it is! The Murano Hat is available as a free Ravelry download. It includes instructions for a Child, Adult Small, and Adult Large size hat. It’s a great project for beginners to learn stranded knitting – working with two colors at once. I’ve included charts and written instructions, so knitters can choose according to their preference.

Since Noro Hakone yarn is discontinued, I’m suggesting Noro Kureyon Air as a good substitute (it’s essentially the same yarn, in slightly different colorways). Another good option would be Malabrigo Mecha. Any super bulky (11 sts/4″ or 10cm) will work.

A good substitute for the Wonderfluff is Tahki Yarns Everest. But any fluffy Aran weight (16 sts/4″ or 10cm) will do the trick, including mohair blends or even brushed acrylics.

I am wishing you all the very best cheer, good health and happiness for this new year. I’m ready for brighter days, and I hope this hat pattern will bring you a little light to start out 2021 on a good note!