Flickr pics here.

Measurement: 50cm head circumference, 19cm from forehead to top of head

Materials:
1 x 50g ball 12ply wool in MC
1 x 50g ball 12ply wool in CC
(I used Rustic 12ply from Bendigo Woollen Mills)

Needles: 6.5mm (US 10.5)

Gauge: 18 stitches x 18 rows in bubble stitch pattern on 6.5mm

Bubble Stitch Pattern:
Row 1 (WS): *P3 tog, (K1, P1, K1) into the same stitch*, repeat from * to *.
Row 2 (RS): P all stitches

Ear Flap
CO 14 stitches in MC.
Row 1: K1 (edge stitch), repeat row 1 of bubble stitch until last stitch, K1 (edge stitch)
Row 2: K1, row 2 of bubble stitch (i.e. P) until last stitch, K1
Row 3: K1, M1, repeat row 1 of bubble stitch until last stitch, M1, K1 (16 stitches)
Row 4: K2, P to last 2 stitches, K2
Repeat rows 3-4 once more (18 stitches), always K edge and increased stitches.

Knit in pattern until ear flap is 9cm or desired length. End with WS row.

Body of Hat
CO 10 stitches in MC. P all stitches on 1st ear flap. CO 34 stitches. P all stitches on 2nd ear flap. CO 10 stitches (90 stitches). First and last stitches are edge stitches. K these on every row.

Row 1: K1 (edge stitch), repeat row 1 of bubble stitch until last stitch, K1 (edge stitch)
Row 2: K1, P to last stitch, K1
Repeat rows 1-2 twice.
Join CC and repeat rows 1-2 three times.
Switch back to MC and repeat rows 1-2 three times, then row 1 again. Hat should measure about 10cm.

Begin shaping…
1st shaping row: K1, *P5 tog, P17*, repeat from * to * three more times, K1 (74 stitches)
Knit 3 rows in pattern
2nd shaping row: K1, *P5 tog, P13*, repeat from * to * three more times, K1 (58 stitches)
Knit 3 rows in pattern
3rd shaping row: K1, *P5 tog, P9*, repeat from * to * three more times, K1 (42 stitches)
Knit 3 rows in pattern
4th shaping row: K1, *P5 tog, P5*, repeat from * to * three more times, K1 (26 stitches)
Knit 1 row in pattern
5th shaping row: K1, *P5 tog, P1*, repeat from * to * three more times, K1 (10 stitches)
Knit 1 row in pattern.

Cut yarn and thread through remaining stitches. Tighten and sew seam. Add pom pom and twisted cords if so desired.

Feel free to email me if you have any problems with this pattern or if you find a mistake.

(This site is still under construction. This is a test post. Find the real me here.)

I finally finished the Jo Sharp bolero I started way back in November.

I really thought I would finish this before Christmas but when I got to the 234-stitch 2×2 ribbed band I completely lost motivation.

Meanwhile I got quite sidetracked with a few other projects, including some secret knitting (to be revealed in a later post) and the Cloud Bolero, which was also in silver (or at least the colour was called Silver Lining although in reality it’s closer to baby blue).

Some additional pics on my flickr.

Okay, project details…

Project: Short Sleeve Bolero in Jo Sharp Knit – Issue 2
Yarn: 6.5 balls of Debbie Bliss Cathay in Silver (same gauge as the Jo Sharp Summer DK Cotton the pattern calls for)
Needles: 3.5mm and 4mm Addi Turbos
Started: Late Nov 06
Finished: 28 January 07

Modifications:
Instead of knitting the fronts and backs separately, I knitted them as one piece up to the armpits and then knitted the fronts and back separately. This is purely to avoid the side seams and I think it actually drapes nicer without the side seams. I also used a 3-needle bind off at the shoulder, again to avoid the dreaded seaming.

Final 2 Cents:
DB Cathay has great stitch definition so any unevenness in my stockinette really shows (and I’m NOT a very even knitter). That’s probably my only gripe with this project.

Actually, I’m really here…

This is a site under construction.