This was a super fast project. I finished in less than a day.

I love the construction of this hat. Knitting from the top down is such a great way to make sure that the hat will be just the right length. I love patterns that teach me new things, so I really liked trying out this new technique. The videos included in the instructions were incredibly helpful, too, thanks to their concise and clear instructions.

The artichoke stitch pattern is so easy to do and has such a beautiful effect. I love that the oversized brim showcases this stitch so nicely.

Usually, I need to use needles smaller than what is called for in the pattern, but for this project, I used the needles the designer recommended. Because I didn’t have size 9 double pointed needles, I started the project with size 8. Once I got enough stitches to move to a cable needle, I changed to a size 9 needle. I think a size 8 would have worked for the rest of the project, though. It would have made it just a little more snug.

Even though the measurements in the directions indicated that I should knit a large hat, I knit an XL hat. When I was knitting the swatch, the height of that swatch was 4” after 22 rows, but the width was closer to 3”. Knitting one size larger than what I needed ensured that the hat would fit. The finished hat feels perfect.