Late this week I received Jean Wong's* diagonal hat pattern that I mentioned a couple of weeks ago. The next day I ran over to a local yarn store and picked up a couple of skeins of Noro Kureyon. Once on the needles, I couldn't put it down. It took just over one day to finish.
This hat is cleverly constructed by knitting back and forth diagonally between the brim and the crown without the need for short-rows. To finish the hat, the provisionally cast-on beginning edge is grafted together with the other edge at a section where garter stitch rows meet.
Thanks to Principles of Knitting, it wasn't too difficult to figure out how to graft garter stitches. It's similar to grafting stockinette stitch from two knitting needles except the sequence is a bit different.
Grafting Garter Stitches:
Place needles parallel. Front needle has purl stitches and back has knit stitches.
1. Starting stitches:
With threaded sewing needle enter first stitch on front needle as if to purl. Pull thread through. Now enter first stitch on back needle as if to purl. Pull thread through
2. With sewing needle slip first front stitch knitwise and remove stitch from the knitting needle, pulling thread through the loop. Enter next stitch on front needle purlwise and pull thread through.
3. With sewing needle slip first back stitch knitwise and remove stitch from knitting needles, pulling thread through the loop. Enter next stitch on back needle purlwise and pull thread through.
4. Repeat 2 & 3 until no stitches remain.
*Jean doesn't have the pattern listed on her website. I found out about her pattern when she was the featured speaker at a local guild meeting. Everyone at the meeting was very impressed with her work and asked about purchasing patterns. A week later I asked via email if I could purchase a copy of the hat pattern and she graciously put one together. She's been teaching for quite sometime at Wool and Wicker in Richmond BC and is apparently branching out. She's put a lot of work into the DVD on her website but I not sure if she has anticipated requests for patterns of her designs. If you're interested in this pattern you can email her via her website. Just keep in mind that's she's probably doing this in her spare time.
Your hat is gorgeous--it complements your complexion beautifully. Which colorway did you use?
Posted by: Stefanie | March 05, 2006 at 02:47 PM
A fabulous hat !
You're so pretty. Especially in that hat. ;-]
Posted by: Emma | March 05, 2006 at 03:06 PM
Wow the Noro was the perfect yarn choice - I don't blame you for not being able to put it down - that's how I was about the Noro entrelac scarf I made. And the colorway looks perfect with your smokering. So so pretty!
Posted by: Laura | March 05, 2006 at 03:24 PM
Thanks.
I've been wearing it all day. I was worried the yarn might be a bit itchy but so far it seems to be ok.
The color is 148, lot A.
Posted by: melinda | March 05, 2006 at 06:34 PM
What a fantastic hat! You look adorable.
Posted by: Tipper | March 06, 2006 at 05:10 AM
Gorgeous hat! Where did you get the pattern?
Posted by: amy! | March 06, 2006 at 12:42 PM
I'm with amy!. I'd love to buy that pattern. I checked the website, but only see the DVD. Ideas?
Posted by: Annie Driscoll | March 06, 2006 at 05:26 PM
I saw the hat when Jean came to the Seattle area to teach at Madrona Fiber Arts Winter Retreat and asked about buying a pattern for it. She just finished it last week and I think I might have been the first one to buy it.
I would suggest sending her a email at jean@knittingwithjean.com
She's just starting to sell her patterns so I'm not sure if or when she'll post them on her website.
Posted by: melinda | March 07, 2006 at 07:46 AM
It's absolutely beautiful! I love Noro. I'm putting this on my To-Knit list. :)
Posted by: zee | March 15, 2006 at 02:07 PM
This is a gorgeous hat? Where can I get the pattern? Thank you
Posted by: Laurie | August 15, 2006 at 06:56 AM
She now has the pattern available for $10 (and free shipping in the US) on the website. It's one of her bestsellers--not surprising!
Posted by: Pamela | October 10, 2006 at 10:00 AM
I love this post because: (a) I now have a cute new hat pattern to get, and (b) I now have instructions on how to do a garter stitch graft, which is what brought me here in the first place.
I'm also envious that you own a copy of Principles of Knitting. It comes highly recommended but is out of print, and can only be found in the library or on ebay for outrageous prices.
Posted by: Mary | March 08, 2007 at 08:55 AM
ahhh, grafting. It always feels like magic when it comes out right. Thanks for the instructions!
Posted by: KT | December 29, 2009 at 02:36 PM