My newest knitting pattern, Nolan, is now live! Yay! I really do adore this hat, and it may be my new go-to for babies, toddlers, children, and maybe even for myself. I’m not just saying it because it’s my pattern, either! I promise!
Now that we’ve gotten the exclamation points out of the way, let’s talk details.
I got the idea for a garter rib body after knitting about a dozen Snow Day Cowls, a pattern by my friend and fellow designer Sue. I loved the idea of a hat that had a garter rib body, and was surprised that I didn’t find one. But I never sit down to put the hat together, mostly because I was intimidated with finding a way to make the crown come together nicely. Then my sister got pregnant with her second child and decided not to find out what she was having. Suddenly, I *needed* a gender neutral baby hat, and I knew this was where garter rib could work. So I went to work.
Nolan is sized for newborns, infants, toddlers, and children. I had a variety of head sizes to work with here at the house, but I also referenced Kate Oates’ great head sizing chart. Because heads come in many different shapes and sizes, this was a wonderful resource for me as a designer (and a knitter).
Nolan is knit in sportweight or DK weight yarn. I knit my first sample in Huckleberry Knits Nootka Merino sportweight (the Huckleberry colorway) on 3.25 mm needles. I knit my second sample in String Theory Hand-dyed Merino DK (the Nevirrik colorway), also on 3.25 mm needles.
One of my favorite things about this pattern is the stretch that the the garter rib has, without all the work of regular 2×2 ribbing. In fact, if I had added extra length to the toddler-sized hat I knit for Jessica, I could have worn it!
Nolan is priced at $4, but between now and the end of November 2011, if you purchase in threes: a baby cardigan or Wyatt, you will receive Nolan free of charge!
I hope you enjoy Nolan as much as I have!
kelly without a net 