CORNFLOWER HAT PDF PATTERN – £3.00
WATCH THE TRAILER | WATCH THE VIDEO TUTORIAL
QUEUE IT ON RAVELRY
Many thanks to my Technical Editor, Akshata Dhareshwar!
Cornflower is my idea of a carefree hat; a hat you pull on without even thinking as you head out to do a spot of gardening. Or perhaps you keep it hanging on a nail in the greenhouse, for convenience. And if your ribbing starts to sag a little because you’ve worn it so much, well, just tie it up a bit tighter! When you get back inside you can sit down with a well-earned cup of Lady Grey. It has cornflowers in it, you know!
Cornflower is knit from the brim up in a deceptively simple & fun stitch pattern that is a combination of eyelets and elongated stitches (watch the video to see for yourself). The ribbing transitions neatly into the main stitch pattern which decreases into a very satisfyingly symmetrical crown. The tie is braided herringbone-style and threaded through the yarn over holes in the brim. Like all good hats, it will knit up in a day.
things i love about this hat, in no particular order
- I can use the braided tie as a bracelet, to stop a door slamming, to tie up drooping plants, or for various other stringy purposes.
- It gives people behind me in a queue something pretty to ponder.
- I can use it as a pouch with a drawstring.
- I can stick all manner of found objects into the tie.
- I can tie it onto my coat / bag / wrist so I don’t lose it! The number of hats I’ve stuffed in my pocket & subsequently lost on walks doesn’t bear thinking…
- It’s lacy & textured at the same time.
- It can be beribboned.
- The tassels mirror the stitch pattern. Details make me happy. :)
On a side note, if you like lists like this, you really should read the 101 Reasons Why I Love Knitting.
details
YARN
‣ 1 ball Alize Cashmira [100gr; 100% wool; 300m / 328yds] or approx. 170m / 186yds of DK-weight yarn (including yarn needed for braided tie).
NEEDLES
‣ 3.5mm (US 4) double pointed needles or 40cm/ 16in circular needles for ribbing,
‣ and 4.5mm (US 7) double pointed needles,
‣ or size to get gauge.
GAUGE
‣ 16sts / 20 rows over 10cm/4in in blocked ribbing.
‣ 1 pattern repeat (18 rounds / 20 sts) is 7cm/2.75in x 7cm/2.75in when stretched.
SIZE
‣ Finished size will be 51cm/20in around the brim (to fit a head 56cm/22in),
‣ 21cm/8.25in from cast-on edge to tip of crown.
‣ The pattern includes instructions both for altering gauge for a tighter-fitting brim, and for making the hat slouchier.
PDF PATTERN – £3.00
QUEUE IT ON RAVELRY
The Parasol Knitalong (for the Parasol Stole & Parasol Shawlette) starts tomorrow! Are you in? You can join anytime in May! And don’t forget to grab a button for your blog:
<a href="http://www.ravelry.com/discuss/laylock-designs/1626797/"><img src="http://laylock.org/images/blog/parasol-kal.png" /></a>
I worked up some quick swatches yesterday, to decide which yarn to use. The first one is in pink Feza Angora using 4.5mm (US 7) needles.
The second one is in white Alize 3 Mevsim, again with 4.5mm (US 7) needles. Which do you like best? At first I was rather in favour of the pink, but watching the Royal Wedding has swayed me in favour of white, I think.
Normally I have a great distaste for ceremonies & formality; weddings just feel hollow and sordid and… commonplace. But as one commentator remarked, it was nice to “suspend cynicism” for once & enjoy the Royal Wedding as a celebration of beauty and purity. The pomp & pageantry, the wide-angle shots of the Abbey accompanied by the swell of music from the orchestra, and the clockwork organisation were impressive in a way that few things are, anymore. (On the other hand, the Twitter commentary & live internet feed were impressive in a way few things ever were.) I found the prayers moving & nearly missed class just to see the kiss. Surely the sheer number of people who watched all around the world is an indication of just how deeply we long for grace and beauty and spiritual depth, and not only elitism, money and power? I like to think so, at least.
So fairytale-wedding-white it is. :)
PARASOL SHAWLETTE – £3
Variations are surely one of the most entertaining & educational artistic practices of all time. When you’re familiar with your piece, and have already done the hard graft of choosing your theme, you’re free to play & tinker, and indulge. My attempts are humble, but here is what a master composer can do with a simple tune (perhaps the simplest tune?). Listen while you read on…
Have you noticed that shallow shawls* seem to be all the rage in the knitting world recently? I simply couldn’t resist. The Parasol Shawlette is a variation of the Parasol Stole: narrower, and with a single border for the ribbing section. The central section, instead of being straight, makes a gentle curve, with the ribbing flowing easily in & out of the decrease “bells”. I have to admit, there are several aspects of this variation that I find particularly satisfying:
- The asymmetry is a natural result of the repetition. What I mean is, though the exact same lace pattern is repeated at either end, it looks asymmetrical, but not unattractively so.
- I find the shawl shaping method particularly elegant (though I do say so myself). As the decreases grow, the shawl narrows. In fact, this is the only tweak you need to make to shape the shawl. The decrease method (which I showed you in this video), remains exactly the same.
- It’s a nice balance of mindless knitting & lace.
- It knits up in a weekend. Who is above the lure of instant gratification? Not me!
The lace sections at either end look pretty when you use the shawlette as a scarf, but they also function as ties if you’d rather wear it around your shoulders.
spring steal
PARASOLS EBOOK – £5
I would like to say that spring has stolen up on me, but I can’t remember a more dull, drizzly or dreary April! These slightly blurry shots were the best I could get, and it’s chilly enough right now that I’m wearing the shawlette around my neck as I type. Still, I’m all excitement for my first pattern bundle! Buying the Stole & Shawlette together will save you £1, which you can will spend on yarn. :)
let’s do it!
“Spend the afternoon. You can’t take it with you.” – Annie Dillard
That might be the tagline of my spring collection. I know some people think sitting & knitting as far from “living” as you can get (that Edvard Munch quotation comes to mind), but where spending days are concerned – and spend them we must – knitting in the afternoon, quietly, contentedly, must come close to bliss. I would be honoured if you were to spend your afternoon with me & my patterns. Which is why…
Please invite your friends/readers also! Here’s the code to place on your blog:
<a href="http://laylock.org/blog"><img src="http://laylock.org/images/blog/parasol-kal.png"/></a>
(You can also link directly to the Ravelry Laylock Designs Group, if you’d prefer.)
Are you also participating in 11 shawls in 2011? I am! You will be glad to know that both the Parasol Stole & Shawlette qualify (in terms of yardage & style) for the challenge. So that puts my current count at 5 and a half.
I hope it’s sunny where you are, lovely knitters & that your yarns are colourful enough to put the spring blossoms to shame. Have a gorgeous weekend! xx
* Every time I say “shallow shawls”, I get that Cole Porter song stuck in my head: “In shallow shoals English soles do it / Goldfish in the privacy of bowls do it / Let’s do it, let’s fall in love”.
Some pattern specs…
‣ Knit flat in one piece,
‣ in DK or lace-weight yarn,
‣ with lace at either end,
‣ and a central section of
ribbing
‣ bordered by lace edging.
‣ 2 balls Nako Nakolen
[100gr; 50/50 wool/acrylic;
210m / 230yds; 5090 Lilac
or approx. 400m /
437yds of DK-weight
yarn. |
‣ OR approx.
350m / 383yds of lace-
weight yarn. |
‣ Gauge isn’t critical, but It’s
important that the fabric
isn’t too tight, so that the
lace looks open and clear
when blocked. |
‣ DK-weight stole:
‣ 12sts / 20 rows
‣ over 10cm / 4in
‣ in blocked ribbing.
‣ 1 lace repeat is 17cm x
9.5cm / 6.7in x 3.7in at
widest points after
blocking. |
‣ Lace-weight stole:
‣ 20sts / 23 rows
‣ over 10cm / 4in
‣ in blocked ribbing.
‣ 1 lace repeat is 13cm x
6.5cm / 5.1in x 2.6in at
widest points after blocking. |
‣ 4.5mm (US 7) straight needles for both versions,
‣ or size suitable to yarn.
‣ Finished size will depend
on blocking. |
‣ The DK
sample was approx:
28cm x 180cm / 11in x
71in. |
‣The lace-weight
sample was approx: 25cm x
136cm / 10in x 54in. |
I finally got some proper shots of the lace-weight version of the Parasol Stole. Yay!
& here are a few POV shots of what it looks like when you’re wrapped in a downy mass of kid mohair…
& here it is, laying demurely in my lap. You’ve heard of hap shawls, but what about lap shawls? :)
Mmmm… what I need right now is a nap shawl…
Ooh look, a free download!
Download 1024 x 768 wallpaper (PNG) | Download A4 poster (PDF)
sunny swatch for a snow day…
I’m sure you already have some yarn in your stash for this project. Since you can use either DK or lace-weight yarn, and alter the width to suit your needs, it’s a very versatile pattern.
PARASOL STOLE – £3
I think of this as the pattern for ladies who like Impressionist paintings, strolls through parks, and a bit of peace and quiet while they sip their cup of tea. It puts me in mind, in particular, of this painting by Arthur Hacker, of a lady who’s lost her parasol to the river on a spring walk…
Arthur Hacker - Lost Parasol
The stitch pattern at either end is from Barbara Walker’s Second Treasury, and it’s called ‘Peri’s Parasol’. ‘Peri’, as well as being a neat little prefix employed in words such as peripatetic, periscope, perimeter and periphery, also means “fairy” in Turkish (from the Farsi). Quite appropriate to the light lacy version, I think.
To me the lace looks like a repetition of open and closed parasols. Or perhaps open parasols spaced with flower buds.
The ribbing and border lace are definitely reminiscent of the rills and eddies of a gentle stream.
And when it’s worn with the edge folded like a shawl collar, the bell-shaped decreases make the ribbing look like flowers. See…
I can’t help it, I love knitting pieces that have names or references that interest me, even if it’s entirely invisible to anyone else who looks at them. I suppose it comes from being a literature major. :)
There are so so many paintings of ladies with parasols! I think painters must have particularly enjoyed painting them because they can provide a plain splash of colour to set off a pretty face from a busy background. The following two ladies are lovely in their green serenity. The second lady even has her eyes closed, enjoying the spring smells and sounds of her garden.
Frederick Frieseke - Lady with Parasol
Richard Emil Miller - The Pool
Green does seem to have been a parasol colour of choice; even Monet chose it for his lady on the windy moors.
Claude Monet - Woman with a Parasol
I love the expression on this pink lady’s face too. Look at her rosy cheeks!
Robert Lewis Reid - Lady with a Parasol
When I have time to knit another one, and if I can get my hands on some multi-hued art yarn, I’d love to knit a purple or sunny yellow one. Just look at the delicious purples of this lady’s gown!
Richard Emil Miller - Woman with Parasol
Frederick Frieseke - The Garden Parasol
And I do think a lace-weight version in grey would look very elegant when I want to dress smarter. Ahh… so much to knit, so few hands! Do please help me out. :)
Berthe Morisot - Hide and Seek
Here are some details. More can be found here and on the Ravelry pattern page.
‣ Knit flat in one piece,
‣ in DK or lace-weight yarn,
‣ with lace at either end,
‣ and a central section of
ribbing
‣ bordered by lace edging.
‣ 3 balls Nako Nakolen
[100gr; 50/50 wool/acrylic;
210m / 230yds; 292 Light
Green] or approx. 700m /
765 yds of DK-weight
yarn. |
‣ OR 3 balls Feza Kid
Mohair [25gr; 85%
mohair / 8% nylon / 7%
polyester; 250m / 275yds;
531 Light Pink] or approx.
610m / 667yds of lace-
weight yarn. |
‣ Gauge isn’t critical, but It’s
important that the fabric
isn’t too tight, so that the
lace looks open and clear
when blocked.
|
‣ DK-weight stole:
‣ 12sts / 20 rows
‣ over 10cm / 4in
‣ in blocked ribbing.
‣ 1 lace repeat is 17cm x
9.5cm / 6.7in x 3.7in at
widest points after
blocking. |
‣ Lace-weight stole:
‣ 20sts / 23 rows
‣ over 10cm / 4in
‣ in blocked ribbing.
‣ 1 lace repeat is 13cm x
6.5cm / 5.1in x 2.6in at
widest points after blocking.
‣ Finished size will depend
on blocking. The lace-weight
sample was approx: 39cm x
145cm / 15in x 57in. |
‣ 4.5mm (US 7) straight needles for both versions,
‣ or size suitable to yarn.
‣ Finished size will depend
on blocking.
|
‣ The DK
sample was approx:
51cm x 155cm / 20in x
61in. |
‣The lace-weight
sample was approx: 39cm x
145cm / 15in x 57in. |
Hope you’re all having a delightful weekend!
Note: Some of the paintings in this post were discovered on It’s About Time.
The parasol is the umbrella’s daughter,
And associates with a fan
While her father abuts the tempest
And abridges the rain.
The former assists a siren
In her serene display;
But her father is borne and honored,
And borrowed to this day.
- Emily Dickinson
What a sweet poem! This post is brought to you by the smell of roses and narcissi and the joy of living in a country where there is sunshine !
It has taken me ages to get around to blogging this, but the Laylock website is finally up! I’m quite pleased with the way it looks at the moment, and can’t wait to fill it up properly.
In anticipation of Easter (which is on the 12th of April this year), I decided to re-relase my 
Chick Egg Cosy pattern as a PDF, with extra instructions. It’s been getting a lot of love on Ravelry, with over 
200 faves! :) I gave all of the original chicks away to friends, so I had to knit another couple to photograph. Here they are, modeled by real eggs. They even had some adventures, before I gave them away too. You’ll notice the second chick posing in front of the Twitter main page. That’s because he’s a Twitter bird! If you’re a Twitter fan too, hop over and follow me, then knit yourself a few blue egg cosies. They’ll keep your egg warm in the morning while you tweet, tweet, tweet.
Thank you so much for all your excellent suggestions regarding the postcards. The Random.org random number generator chose #1! So congratulations to LittleWit, I’ll be sending you a package very soon!
I was very interested to hear that CraftyCripple, Vanessa, and StephCat prefer notecards. Like Tekopp, I find postcards very versatile, easy to stick on the wall, or pop into a package without fiddling with envelopes. Not to mention cheaper to post! I can see the arguments for notecards though: they can be stood on a shelf, and they are more private. Either way, I love StephCat’s idea of using them in knitswaps. To this end, as Sarah suggested, the ‘nature’ cards will be grouped separately to the ‘knitting’ cards, and I will take care to make them “generic” enough to be useful for a variety of greetings.
Having said that, until I do some notecard-printing research, the first batch of cards in the shop will be postcards. I will try to get them up sometime next week. Thank you all once again for your comments!
21 September, 2011 | 
tags: 
Overview
Yarn
Gauge
Materials
Finished Measurements
