Hermione's cable and eyelet hat - yarn recommendations?

[g_smarmy]

Hi all,

I've been wanting to try Hermione's cable and eyelet hat from HBP. I wonder what yarns everybody has used for it? I want to use something thinner than worsted, I think smaller stitches would make it look better.

Comments

[rons_pigwidgeon]

Well, if you're using this pattern, it calls for Patons Classic Merino. But looking at the project page on Ravelry, it looks like everything from Vanna's Choice to Malabrigo has been used with success, so I suppose you could use whatever worsted weight yarn you want to.

[g_smarmy]

I'll definitely use that pattern as a basis (thanks Jackie!), but I think I'm going to use a DK weight yarn, so I was curious to see if anyone else has made that kind of adjustments... Thanks for the recommendations!

[cheetahliv]

I used Caron's Simply Soft in gray for mine, and it turned out lovely if I do say so myself. :)

[g_smarmy]

Thanks!

[sleepsong]

Keeping in mind that with thinner yarn you'll have to compensate a fair amount in terms of number of stitches cast on, what about the pattern the way it is now don't you like?

From what I can tell, I think the main thing the pattern got wrong is that they used too thin a yarn to begin with. I don't think that's a worsted yarn they used for the hat - I think it's a single ply chunky yarn with some mohair or other fuzzy yarn content in it that was then knit very tightly and allowed to felt a little to mask the purl bumps.

I think.

I'll take a better look when I go home later. I'm at work now and so am looking up pictures on my iPhone, which is not the most ideal way of going about things...

[g_smarmy]

I don't know exactly what it is about the pattern that seems just a little bit off to me. I think it's what you said, the original hat is knit very tightly, I want to try to replicate that. But so you think it was done in an even thicker yarn? I guess that makes sense, actually... and then just done with smaller needles?

I don't want to use mohair, though, I think the pattern is so lovely that it'd be a shame to obscure it with fuzziness.

[sleepsong]

It's not a pure mohair, it's probably like a 10% content - enough to give it a little fuzz without overwhelming the pattern.

Actually, you know what might work? Cascade Pastaza. It's heavy Aran weight, though not mohair (it's a 50/50 blend of wool and llama), andit's got a nice halo about it and as you can see from this sweater I made, stitch definition is not a major problem.

[g_smarmy]

Your sweater looks great! Thanks for the recommendation, I'll look that yarn up.

[kilted]

A friend of mine just made that and used Bernat Satin Solids, apparently. It turned out really lovely.

[g_smarmy]

I actually have some of that in my stash, but not gray, or I might have used it as well. I prefer natural fibers in hats, though, they don't make my hair quite so static.. :D Thanks!