Web-Letter, Issue 48 – A Slouch for All Seasons One of the great things about accessories is that you can knit with a color that you love, but one that you might not otherwise wear—not in an oversize sweater, anyway. Melissa Lynn, who appreciates the benefits of slouchy hats for days when your hair is feisty and independent, has designed a hat that’s cool—in style and function. She made her Slouch for All Seasons in CEY’s sleek Bam Boo. We liked the hat so much, that we made a second version—this one in Provence, a soft Egyptian cotton. We chose an unusual red (Biddeford Shrimp #2623), one of Provence’s 47 juicy colors. Read on for Melissa’s comments on her hat.
The Story: I love wearing all kinds of hats, but the slouchy sort are my absolute favorite. They're the perfect disguise for a bad-hair day and knitting them requires very little time or yarn. But even with a drawer full of hats, I was stumped what to do when warm-weather hit. I’m still having bad-hair days. I needed something cool to wear. So I set out to design a slouch for all seasons. Classic Elite's Bam Boo seemed like a perfect choice. It's silky, cool, and has a lovely drape, just perfect for this type of hat. I started at the rim and worked a 1x1 rib. Then I continued with stockinette stitch panels flanked by columns of double eyelets. The eyelets gradually swirl as the crown decreases, making a pretty pattern, and this very simple detail doubles as ventilation. Now I’m set—for all seasons! The Yarn: Bam Boo — 100% bamboo OR Provence — 100% mercerized Egyptian cotton Different yarns that knit up at the same gauge can result in different final projects. Melissa Lynn worked her original hat in CEY’s Bam Boo. We worked our version in Provence. Both yarns made hats the same size, but the hats were slightly different from each other. Provence, a mercerized Egyptian cotton has a cable structure with a strong twist. Bam Boo, a 100% bamboo yarn, is multi-stranded with a looser twist. Both yarns give a lovely sheen to the finished hat—Provence because of the mercerization process and the Bamboo due to the natural sheen of the fiber. However, each yarn drapes differently. Provence has more body and gives the hat a shaped and uplifted look.  Bam Boo, smooth and liquid-y, allows for lovely floppiness.   The Stitches: Most berets are worked in the round to keep them fluid and without seams. There are some important differences between working in the rnd and working a piece flat. Read more.	more photos The Pattern: Here is the free downloadable Slouch for All Seasons pattern.
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