Knitting up the newest in the line of Shetland Wool Week hat patterns, called Bonnie Isle.
I’m late to the party, but apparently every year there is a hat pattern to celebrate Shetland Wool Week. I’ve seen the cute lambs hat from a few years ago (Baa-ble), and knit Katie’s Kep twice, but otherwise haven’t paid much attention.
The latest SWW pattern – Bonnie Isle Hat – has come out for 2022, and I have begun knitting it. The nautical theme features waves and anchors and a bit of a unique cast-on and rib beginning.
All hats shown here were knit from patterns found in the Hats On! pattern book which is available at Amazon.
Gansey Watch Cap
Fur Pom Pom Added to Gansey Watch Cap
The pattern is in chart form only, and I was not sure how to do it. I think the top is not quite right, but it’s good enough. I would make this hat again with smaller needles in the smaller size. Mine is a size Medium, but came out a bit loose.
Fana Cap
I finished knitting the Fana Cap just before I left for New Hampshire, and gave it to my daughter. We volunteered at the Monadnock Animal Shelter fundraiser and it was a cold, rainy day, so she wore her new hat.
Fana Cap
Yarn Used: Manos del Uruguay “Gloria” in superwash merino worsted wool in color “Pescador” blue. White yarn is Rowan Alpaca soft DK combined with Rowan Kidsilk Haze mohair, held together.
Notes / Changes: I made the Medium size, which was perfect for my daughter’s small head, but next time I would make the larger size.
Aran Watch Cap
I knit this one in size Medium which was large enough around, but I needed more height. Changes: Next time I will add another inch to the top part and maybe make a longer cuff. I like a nice wide cuff to flip up and give my ears double coverage in the cold.
This is an interesting pattern with cable and seed stitch between simple knits and purls. For that reason a solid color is recommended. I used Malabrigo worsted yarn in “Water Green” color which made this finished hat nice and soft.
I plan to make this one again with the changes I mentioned. The decrease section is quick so dealing with DPN’s is fast.
Depending on your knitting skill level, the hats in this book will keep most knitters happy. I began by knitting the simple patterns like the Classic Watch Cap and Tam, and progressed to two color patterns and cable patterns. Still on my list of “want to knit” are the Triple Pattern Watch Cap, All-over Two-Color Pattern Watch Cap, and Norwegian Star.
Some of the colors chosen to knit the sample hats in this book are not the best, but change the colors yourself and come up with something unique.
I have to keep track of what I am knitting so what better place than here on my blog. It may not be of much help to any readers, but maybe it will inspire someone to knit something. I’m listing them in June, and certainly won’t be done with them in June!
No matter how hard I try, I can’t finish a project before I begin at least one, two or three more. I get bored easily so picking up the same knitting every time I get the urge to knit, won’t work. So I end up with a number of things going on at once. Most knitters are this way I imagine.
But, I tend to forget what pattern I am working on. When I pick up something to work on, I have to scrounge around for the pattern to remind myself what I’m doing. (The Ravelry site is a good place to do that too, if you don’t have a blog.)
Now I will be keeping my current projects listed here, and will update to show the finished products with notes, advice and whatever I’ve learned along the way.
I won’t begin any more projects until July (Says Who?)
Project 1:Estrellita Blue Hat with sparkle yarn from Miss Babs -estrellita. I am making up this pattern as I go. The yarn is pretty, but a bit stiff feeling- not as soft as I’d hoped. It’s because of the sparkle I suppose.
Ribbed hat in Estrellita sparkle yarn
Fingering yarn.
CO 120+1 = 120 total (use extra stitch to join only)
K2,P2 around and around for a fold up brim. It seems small. Might have to be for a young girl.
Next? Not sure what to do now. I may add stitches to make a slouch hat, or use bigger needles and add another yarn to blend with this one. I’ve never done either of those things, but I may try something new. This could get me into trouble.
Project 2: Spring Green Shawl in fingering yarn from Miss Babs – Katahdin, light fingering. This is a huge ball of yarn with 1750 yards! I paid $3 for them to wind it for me. Totally worth it!
Diamond pattern spring green shawl
I keep messing up the diamond pattern design, but I don’t want to frog this item. I have already ripped back to a lifeline, and that wasn’t pretty either. Read My experience using a lifeline to see what happened.
I’m also using the i-cord edging to make neat edges. This shawl will take a while to finish.
I’ve decided to just keep going even though the pattern is messed up in places. The shawl will either be for me or my daughter, and neither of us will inspect it too closely. She may never even notice the mistakes. Project 3:African Gray rectangular shawl using the Terrace Wrap free pattern at Purl Soho. Using the Dutch Knitting Stitch, which is simple, but this long, rectangular wrap will take a while to finish. At first I wasn’t happy with the way it curled, but I will continue and hope it flattens when I block it.
Also, I will not have enough yarn of this color to finish, so will have to incorporate another color at some point.
Terrace Wrap shawl in African Gray
Project 4: White Hat & Scarf in “natural” Rasta yarn – which will be a gift. This will probably be what I work on most. Will be similar to the previous hat and scarf pattern in Arco Iris Rasta yarn. I’ll be following the Churchmouse Fisherman’s Rib scarf free pattern, and making the hat similar to the one done in “Arco Iris” color. This yarn is a already a favorite of mine. It knits up quickly, and is so soft!
New England's Narrow Road 