A Tip on Blocking Hat Decreases

Several of my hat patterns are somewhat tubular in shape (including the recently released Fall Flux Hats and Whelk Hat).

When hats are shaped like long tubes, it is sometimes difficult to block the hat decreases so they don't pucker at the top of the hat.

My favorite way to block hats like this is by using a tub of protein whey, like the one pictured below. I borrow one of these tubs (barrels?) from my boyfriend whenever I need to block hat decreases! I'm sure he thinks I'm crazy - but it works!

The key is to block the hat flat until it is about halfway dry. You just want it damp, not wet. That way, it won't stretch the hat out of shape while the decreases relax.

When the hat is halfway dry, place it gently over the inverted tub. Smooth the crown decreases flat and make sure the sides are even across the brim. Make sure you haven't stretched or pulled the hat during this process.

The crown decreases should look like this:

A lot less puckering, right? And the finished product looks like this:

Slouchy Pom Hat Prototype

This past weekend I spotted the cutest hat at Urban Outfitters. Of course, there were many things I'd change about it if I were knitting it myself. I knew that this simple hat was something I could recreate on my own terms with little to no fuss, so I added to my list of "things I must design" for the near future.

Here's the hat I saw at Urban. It just so happens that I was in need of a simple project for my book club meeting tonight, so I made my first trip to Loopy Yarns, which was quite pleasant. It's funny that I've lived in Chicago for 3.5 years now and I somehow had never made it to Loopy. They have a great selection everyone was super nice to me.

I purchased some lovely Cascade Eco Duo - a 70% undyed baby alpaca, 30% undyed merino wool blend that knits up to 18 sts per 4" on a US8 (6mm). Gorgeous. Just gorgeous.

Yes, I know. The picture leaves much to the imagination. It's 11:30pm and I'm tired, OK? This is the best that my little ole iPhone 3G has to offer at this time :)

Anyway, it's fuzzy and lovely. You'll just have to take my word for it.

I chose a US 10 needle to knit up the hat because I intended for it to be slouchy. My test swatch revealed that I got 5 sts per inch in a k3,p2 rib. So I cast on and began this beauty.

Starting at 7pm, and it's now 11:30pm and I almost have an entire hat! I began decreasing for the crown, and I'm ready to switch to dpns, but I think it's bedtime! The rest will have to be unveiled at a later date...

Until then, here's a peek: