Ztripey

Pattern: Zebra hat kit from Dale of Norway

Yarn: Dale of Norway Falk, one ball of each colour.

Needles: 2.5 and 3 mm bamboo dpns. Should maybe have used 3.5 mm for the stripe section to make it more elastic.

Modifications: Added earflaps and I-cord ties to make it stay on a toddler’s head.

Knits are hard to photograph. It helps a great deal that the sun is back though (and Picasa can usually fix the rest). Kids are pretty damn hard to photograph too. Planning doesn’t help a bit, all you can do is shoot from the hip and hope that some part of the kiddo is still within the frame when the flash goes off. Thank heavens for digital cameras!

I made the 2-4 yr size but it won’t fit next winter I think, so it is basically a 2 yr size. Luckily (or not…) it is still snowing here and it won’t stop anytime soon. If I make the hat again, and I might, I’ll use 3.5 mm needles for the stripy part. There is not enough yarn left in any of the colours for another hat but this is one of those nice plain workinghorse yarns that you can never buy too much of.

This charming little lady sure appreciates her handknits. (Notice handknitted overall!) The hat was pulled on the moment it came out of the bag and stayed on for the reminder of my visit. It is very versatile. Just look.

I actually started with the I-cord, knitted upwards and increased somehow to make the earflaps. I first did a plain all over 2×2 rib which did not work at all as it pulled in too much. Then I came up with this option. It is a 6 st garter edge with some “ribbing” that makes it stretchy, but not curly. I think it looks like pointy juicy green grass. Yummy says zebra.

The pattern requires some attention but the great thing about it is that it doesn’t matter if you do small mistakes. If you do big ones, like adding earflaps and place the decreases and the “seam” on the sides instead of front and back…. well, I ripped the whole thing and reknit to get the mane where it is usually found on zebras. I chose white as the dominant yarn but I’m not sure it matters too much here.

If you’re not tired of zebra knits you can check out Theresa’s projects. She is doing a whole zebra set!

This zebra is sleeping now. And she kept her hat on.