It’s Dollheid prize time! Congratulations to ten randomly-selected commenters: Celia, Luisa, Arndis, Lillicroche, Yulian, Maaike, Lizzi, Pat (J) and two Marias (one German, one Canadian) to whom I’ve just emailed a copy of the pattern. And thanks for all your comments, everyone, which I enjoyed reading: I was thrilled to discover that dollheid translates into Dutch as ‘frolicky madness’, and particularly liked Kristi’s tale of her psychedelic dream knitting — a phenomenon strangely familiar to those of us who Dream in Wool.
For those of you who are interested, here’s a little more about the design. The shaping is that of a traditional tam, but with a greater number of crown-points than is usual (eighteen dolls = eighteen points of decrease). I began with stitches to fit an average head circumference of 21 inches (those with very wee heads might knit the edging on a 2.5mm rather than a 3mm needle). The brim edging is worked in corrugated rib, and then stitches are increased rapidly to the finished diameter. Despite the relatively long areas of colourwork, I didn’t weave my strands at all — and found that the yarn stabilised quickly at the back of the work (warning: this will only work with a very even tension and a pure-wool yarn!). My finished dollheid is ten inches wide and eight inches deep – a roomy fit that would enable you to wear this tam in a slouchy fashion on the back of your head, as well as pulled down over your ear-tops (as I like it). Knitting towards the top of the crown, paired decreases are worked in the spaces between the dolls, and then in corresponding sets up through the crown pattern, until three stitches remain, which are finished as an i-cord stalk. Finally, I blocked the tam by pinning it out — rather than stretching it over a plate. This is simply because I find that putting a tam onto a plate over-stretches the ribbing, and I like my ribbing to stay as ribby as possible.
Well, dollheid is now “live” and if you are interested in the pattern, you can find it here or here. But I want to conclude this post with another congratulations — to Tom, who ran the Islay half marathon on Saturday in a speedy personal best.
Look at him go! More about our weekend on Islay shortly.
I just finished knitting the peerie flooeres hat. Althought it is hot now in the southern USA. I wore it out…..I have had so many positive comments and offers to buy it off my head. Not a chance. I love it. I’m going to buy the paper doll pattern and knit it as well. My daughter wants a twin of both hats…..for the fall in Western Canada which can be similar to scotland. I love your designs. You are very talented.
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Dear Kate,
I am so excited I am one of 10 winners!!!
I love your work, your resourcefulness and creativity. You know I am a knitter, a spinner, and now I have also started to sew. I should say that your blog is a great source of inspiration and crafty happiness.
I’ve started blogging about my passions, so if you would like to visit my blog, you will see that I’ve started your ‘Two-Kates’ project bag the day before I won the Dollheid pattern, as one of my sewing projects.
Oh gosh… again: I am so happy!
Thank you very much for being there!
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Thank you very much! It will be one great challenge.
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Frolicky madness? How excellent! I think we need a word/phrase in English that means frolicky madness – other than those two words obviously!
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Go Tom! and well done to you for getting a shot in focus. I obviously need to hire a better photography team for my races as the shots are always blurry and I’m sure I’m not running half so fast.
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Congratulations Tom!
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Love this pattern and know what you mean about the ribbing – I’ve always assumed it’s my massive swede that ruins hat ribbing, but don’t reckon plate blocking helps. Incidentally, dollheid means ‘tax swarm’ in Welsh, but that’s not as poetic as frolicky madness, I’m afraid.
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I was just admiring your photos of Dollheid on my ravelry friends page, and have added it to my autumn/winter hat list. I think it’ll make me smile every time I wear it. (It feels like it’s part of my wardrobe already, which is why I know I must knit it!)
I know just what you mean about plates and ribbing – I combat this by taking a piece of waste yarn and making a loose running stitch around where the ribbing meets the body of the hat. I then pull the ends of the yarn tight and tie them together to stretch the hat over the plate, leaving the ribbing unaffected and allowing it to retain its bounce and spring.
And congrats to Tom!
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Congrats to all the winners, including Tom (personal best… way to go)!
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The hat is beautiful!
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Thank you so much for the pattern! It looks awesome. Definitely something for me to knit when it’s not so hot outside! =]
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Ohh thanks!! I means that “I will have to” knit :-)
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