Casting On the Lisse Hat

If you read my newsletter last week (10/29/15) you know I wrote about about how to squeeze knitting Lisse Hat into your schedule. I figured I should try it too.

Casting On the Lisse Hat

I estimated it would take 11 hours to knit in last week’s newsletter. It ended up taking about 7 hours (I’ve not blocked it yet), even though I spent about 2 hours casting on and knitting the first two rounds.Yes, you read that right. I cast on the Lisse Hat four times:

1. I used tail as yarn and ran out of tail,
2. I didn’t have enough yarn in the tail even when it was used correctly,
3. I cast on so many stitches I pushed the beginning off my needles, and
4. I finally got it right.

This was my own fault because I was multi-tasking in an attempt to get several things finished at once. I hope you don’t recognize that behavior.

Once I got going I started working the bobblets incorrectly because I failed to look at the directions, but realized the error after the second one, so was able to go back and get on track. So about 2 hours after I started I finally finished the cast on and first two rounds of the hat. I am making the large.

Knitting the Lisse Hat

Then I put the hat aside because I had other things I needed to work on and I didn’t pick it up again until Monday evening. I had roughly calculated that each round was taking about 5 minutes, so that is about right for knitting time. I had printed out a Lisse Hat Planning sheet so I could first estimate, then calculate my actual knitting time.

By the time I get to Wednesday night I am close to finishing the hat. I know, I wasn’t supposed to work on only this, but I really loved working on it. As I work my way through the shaping rounds it becomes clear I do not have quite enough yarn to finish. I plan to change to another color before the last repeat of pendants, but I forget and end up having to back up about six rounds to make sure I don’t have an unsightly color change. I go right into the top bobblet. I then decide it needs to be in the main color, so take that out before I head to bed.

Thursday morning after my Pilates class I decide to just finish the hat, so it is done, but for the blocking and finishing.

This is what I learned.

1. Casting on the Lisse Hat requires at least minimal concentration.
2. The bobblets are awesome if you use backwards knitting (and follow the directions).
3. Lisse Hat is, honestly, a really great knit.
4. My directions are easy to follow–if you follow them!