Knitting and Fitting

I've knit the same hat twice this past week. And I've had to take both of them apart. After spending a few hours on my first attempt, I ended up with what looked like a frumpy bonnet, tried again decreasing stiches and doubling the yarn, only to produce a puffy awkwardly shaped mushroom top. Neither were wearable though I managed to knit the second hat with a bit more precision than the first.

The pattern is deceptively simple: Grumperina's Odessa hat but I'm quickly learning that there is much more to knitting a hat than mastering a pattern. No matter how well-crafted the pattern, you better have the right fit because no one wants to wear a knitted yamaka (hat too small) or Little Bo Peep bonnet (hat too big).

At this point, I'm tempted to tear the pattern into tiny little pieces and kick the sea-green yarn I've been working this monster on in order to erase all of the tension and dissapointment of the last few days. But I can't help but yearn for my own "copy" of this cute, chique little hat. Plus, Shedir is on the horizon which not only needs to be fitted but has a wicked pattern to it as well. Might as well master fitting on a project that has an easy comfortable pattern.

So. I've decided to become a "swatcher" (aka. one who uses swatches before knitting an entire project only to discover after hours of work that the guage is off). Swatching involves a bit of delayed gratification but at this point, I think it's worth it. And before I take another look at Odessa, I'm going to have to pick up my scarf and remind myself of the pleasures of knitting.