Monday, December 28, 2009

Chris' Chulo


Two days before Christmas I came up with the idea to make a hat for one of my nephews. The pattern came from Marcia Lewandowski's "Andean Folk Knits: Great Designs from Peru, Chile, Argentina, Ecuador & Bolivia." The yarn came from the local yarn shop, J.J.'s Knitting Knook. While I was there I picked up green and brown wools for DH and a brighter red wool to go with the red from my stash which DS had already claimed. I'll use the same neutral for all three hats since it takes less than 50 yards per hat and the Cascade 220 I chose will do all three with some leftover.

This was the first time I'd worked with color stranding in the round. The process was much easier than I expected and I finished the hat Christmas morning thanks to DS deciding six o'clock was late enough for anyone to sleep on Christmas. Our family Christmas gathering was postponed due to the weather so I had time to block it, too. And I chose superwash wool so I don't have to worry about it felting when he throws it in the wash.

The only problem is that DH and DS both wanted that hat.

It didn't matter that I'd anticipated the problem and have yarn on-hand to make them each a hat from the same pattern. I placated DH by telling him that the thyme green I picked out for him will bring out the color of his eyes much better than the blue I chose for Chris and I explained to DS that I chose the red (his favorite color) with him in mind.

The masterstroke, though, was when I gave DH a piece of knitter's graph paper and told him he could design his own color band. He's thinking tanks and crossed sabers while DS is trying to decide between elven symbols and Warhammer 40K tyranids. As long as they can graph the designs on the paper in the space alloted and use no more than 3 colors to show the design, I promised to knit it. Wish me luck.

7 comments:

sue said...

Great job, Carolyn! Beautiful job!

Anonymous said...

I'm new to knitting and by new I mean two weeks of experience. I saw this hat and fell in love with it and decided to make it for my boyfriend for Christmas. I didnt let the intermediate experience scare me away and now I'm halfway done with the hat, but I'm not feeling the colors so I would like to start a new one. Since I'm doing another one I would really like to do it right this time. The first problem Im having and that i have with all my work is that the earflaps look like I purled them. It's so frustrating. I would love if you could help me out. Thank you!!!

Carolyn at Walnut Spinney said...

I'll try to help but I'm not sure what sort of problem you're having.

The earflaps on both hats I knitted curled something fierce before I blocked them. (Steam iron, damp press cloth, careful pressing)

Anonymous said...

Well, my first problem was that I wasn't purling right, but thankfully I just figured that out :D. My next question is at the very beginning of the pattern. It says to CO 3 sts. Then Row 1: K ( so thats three stiches). Then Row 2: K1, inc1, k1, inc1, k-5 sts.

That's where I get confused. The slip knot counts as a cast on stitch, so I only have to cast on two more stiches (correct?). Then when it comes to row 2 how can you K1, inc1, k1, inc1...if there are only three stitches to work off of? I tried figuring this out by casting on 4 stitches at the beginning, but then I end up with 6 stitches for row 2 when there are only suppose to be 5.

Carolyn at Walnut Spinney said...

The slip knot does count as a stitch when you first cast-on so you'll have the slip knot and two more stitches that you've actually cast-on for the total of 3 and you knit those for Row 1.

So when Row 2 of the pattern tells you to k1, inc 1, k1, inc 1, k1-5sts, you will knit the first of the three stitches on your needle. Then increase one stitch, knit the next stitch, increase one stitch and then knit the last stitch on the needle.

So you'll knit each stitch from the first row and plus add an increase of one stitch in between stitches 1&2 and 2&3. And are then left with 5 stitches on the needle, ready to start Row 3.

Anonymous said...

I just wanted to thank you for your all your help!!! I finished my boyfriend's hat today and I can't tell you how excited I am to have accomplished something so unique and beautiful out of a ball of old yarn. Of course, since it was my first project, it has "character"...as in several flaws. But with every handmade item there is always a tiny imperfection to give it that special effect. I was just really excited and decided to share that. I love all the patterns that you've done. I think I may have to make another for my brother :D

Carolyn at Walnut Spinney said...

So glad you like the finished chulo! I like character in a knitting project, just like I do in people. Hope you make another one and enjoy the process with it, too.