Recommended gauge: 6s x 7r to the inch
Targeted circumference: 21”

My gauge before corrections: 5s x ?r
My circumference before corrections: 24”

My corrected gauge: 26s x 20r
My corrected circumference: 19.5”

yield: 43 gr MC & 33gr CC + 8gr black & 2gr cream for folded hem. Total weight of hat: 85gr

Modification: I knitted a shorter hem and added a personalized caption. I did a couple more diminitions rounds before cinching.

9/09/09: Did 1” of the border on 3.25mm and things aren’t working out at all. My stranding is perfect, not too loose, not too tight, but I am getting 5 stitches to the inch, and a 24” circumference. Maybe it would fit my recipient, but I am aiming for 1-2” of negative ease for a good fit.

Also, the knitting is way too limp for my taste. But Heilo knits up beautifully with a crisp and nice stitch definition, although it’s texture is a bit like plastic at this stage.

11/09/09: I started all over again on 2.75mm needles with the intention of of maybe switching to 3mm pass the border, when I get at the actual motif, hence the more heavily stranded portion. The chart is easy to read and really fun to do. I am using 2 x 2.75mm 32” circulars as for magic loop and I really like how it knits and feels.

02/10/09: I ripped everything 2 weeks ago and got back to the prescribed 3.25mm after having my bf try the hat. It ruined the surprise but I realized he has a big head and that the heavily stranded portion shrunk form 24” diameter to a mere 20”. Yipes! Good thing I got back with the plan!

11/10/09: Crammed up all night & got the hat finished. Now, I gotta pick-up stitches along the brim for the fold-in border. Upon waking-up, bf was already sporting the hat. I guess he really likes it!

19/10/09: Finished the folded hem (1 3/4”), complete with a personalized caption. I just need to steam it, sew it and block the hat.

And so I thought the hat to be done deal. I even blogged about it and set a finish time on my Ravelry page. Ah ah, little did I know…

some time in November: Steam to fold the hem, and without further thinking, just got all the ends weaved in “before” I tried the hat on bf. And guess what: too small due to the stranding of the personalized caption and the added thickness. Darn!

Pouting annoyed period

some time in late December: Snipped all the CC floats on the hem as a dare, because I was reluctant to un-weave all my ends. The trick worked beautifully and granted me the needed ease for a nice fit, but then, bf realized the hat was too deep/long for his taste. He wanted me to untink an inch or so and redo the hem.

2nd pouting annoyed episode

03/01/10: Gathered the necessary courage to undo the weaving, which was not all that bad actually. Ripped all the hem and then proceeded to rip the extra lenght on the hat. Yarn would not cooperate which I though was due to the stranding and the fact that the yarn had started to felt. An then it hit me: the hat was knit from the brim up! Of course I couldn’t unravel it. Sigh. So I proceede to pull everything stitch by stitch. Yes, I love him that much.

I managed to finish everything and only when the hem was properly al stitched up did he dare tell me: it itches! Oy vey! This one will stay like this!

finished hat: 85gr