Gradient experiment #2
. See #1 iteration

For the Luxury Yarns Lovers group Musselburgh KAL
. This is a small informal group.

IDEA
. The yarn is a gradient sock set from SBY, so it is the same gradient across each half of the skein (50g each)
. Instead of my usual helical striping, I’d like to try to use the gradient only for the crowns and for as much stockinette as I can.
. Then I’ll go solid for the brim with the OF Umbra
. The first iteration, I did the two ends going inward, then a modified 3-needle BO in the middle.
. This one I am going to go straight through, which will mean I’ll be playing a little yarn chicken for the closing crown.

CAST-ON
. KnitPink’s slow-mo Pinhole cast-on
… Quite fiddly on the dpn’s
… I have a hard time with using two fingers the way Staci does, so I just use my pointer finger
… Split onto dpns the way she does. 2:2:4 (with the 4 being the start of the round). More manageable than 4 dpns.
… Knit a round/row after. I tighten with the tail, then slide the stitches to the right and knit straight across before moving them to the other dpn’s.
… … Doing the kfb’s right away - harder to get that b stitch.

Increases
. I get a little bit of a pull on mine. Wet blocking helps smooth it. When I show it to other people, they don’t really notice it.

SIZING for 22” circ head
. With US 2’s I usually go to 36 sts * 4 = 144 sts
. Using US 1.5’s for this thinner yarn. My first iteration had fewer stitches (34).
. I usually go for 40 rounds after crown.
. The first iteration, I did 38 rounds and that left me enough breathing room with only 1.2g remaining.
. Crunched the numbers with a spreadsheet, and calculated that I would only get to 34-35 rounds if I went up to 36 and decided that wasn’t tall enough.
. Going for 34 sts 4 = 136 sts and 37-38 rounds.
… made it to 40!

BRIM
. Midsection - folded
… The hat is folded in half, so 12” = 6” which is folded again for the brim, so 3” brim which is a little more than the height of my ear.
… I usually do 120 rounds
. My first iteration, I did 58 rounds each side (116 total)
. This one, I’ll go for my usual 120 rounds.

DIMENSIONS
. 18” circumference by 24” long
. did not change much with blocking

WEIGHTS
SBY Gradient
. Total: 51.1g
. Crown 1 + 40 st st: 26.6r = 24.5u
. Crown 2 + 40 st st: 2.2gr = 24.4gu
. Total used: 48.9g

OF Iolite
. Total: 53.8g
. 120 brim rows: 2.2gr
. Total used: 51.6g

YARN
. Pretty certain this Shirley Brian seconds is her Hindsight is 2020 colorway.
. OF Umbra can feel thin, but when I lay it next to the SBY, they look about the same.
. I like the darker contrast of the trnchd Cocktail Midnight Rain, but decided to go with the more faded blue of the OF because of the ashiness of the gradient.
… might still pair the second sock half with the Cocktail for either a Mbgh or a Newsprint cowl.

NEEDLES
. Going with US 1.5 since the yarns are lighter fingering
. Feels great on the first iteration - supple, flexible, no see-through