Itty-Bitty Hat Parade

I've been a hat-making fool - Itty Bitty Hats, to be exact. Baby hats, I've discovered, are the perfect project for me right now - totally mindless, and if they're simple, you are just going around and around and around.

They are easy to transport, and easy to pick up and put down anywhere, at any time, and at any place in the project. You don't even have to worry about finishing a row.

Luckily, I've had some people in my life who have recently had babies. The stripey set up there is for a friend who had little twin girls. Little twin identical girls. So I made them the same color, but switched the colors on each. I still have to weave in the yarns, but that's easy.

The other Itty Bitty is the pink hat. It has become a thorn in my side. The idea was so perfect. My friend Kathleen (who, if you are reading Kath, avert your eyes. But you shouldn't be reading - you should be cuddling.) who had a baby girl the first week of January. JANUARY! That was...years ago already! They named their sweet baby girl Daisy - and I thought it would be so perfect to make baby Daisy the Upside Down Daisy hat from Itty Bitty Hats! Great idea, right?

Wrongo, chongo.

Knitting the hat was no problem. You know, around and around and around. Even switching to the DPN's was no problem. Sticks all over the place was a little challenging, but I did it.

No. It's those daisy petals.

They are nothing like what they should be. They should be this:

Nice, straight, puffy petals that burst from the top of the Itty Bitty.

But, no. Mine turned out shriveled, short and crooked. Like a Daisy trying to bloom during a drought or sandstorm. Like a pesticide-ridden bloom, languishing in the setting sun of its' lonely day...

Mine:

The Proper Upside Down Daisy:

Mine:

The Proper:

Mine:

Pathetic. I don't know what to do. There is no way I can gift something like this, and the thought of little Daisy's keppi going uncovered and cold is just too sad for me to contemplate.

Is there any way to salvage this mess? Has anyone made this hat? Do I just throw in the towel and move on? 

Comments

[Sarah]

Those hats are too sweet! Sorry the little daisy hat is giving you fits. Perhaps you could email Susan Anderson and ask? She is delightful.

[Arlette]

Hi Carrie,
I'm not very good at knitting flowers. I usually crochet flowers to add to a knitted project because I find it so much easier to crochet small items instead of knitting them. The pink hat is adorable and by no means would I ever scrap something so precious. My remedy would be to add a bunch of crochet flowers around the base of the stem. I'm going to try to give you a link to what I'm talking about. Hope it works. I would change the yarn on the petals to white and keep the center yellow. You could also tuck in a few green leaves too. It should hopefully look like a cluster of daisies. Hope this helps a bit and gives you another perspective.
Aloha!

http://crochet.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?site=http://www.kreinik.com/kshop/product.php%3Fproductid=102%26cat=33%26page=3

[Meghan]

Hi there, don't give up yet! You're so close, and the recipient is sure to love the hat. I have a couple thoughts. First of all, it looks like you knit everything quite well, so perhaps the issue is just in the finishing. I wonder if soaking the petals and hat and blocking them might make them more fluffy? Also, how did you attach the petals to the hat? Maybe try a different type of stitch to attach them--mattress stitch? Something to make them look seamless. Good luck, I'm sure it will turn out perfectly.

[Knitterella]

Oh your hats are so cute! Don't you just love that book?!

Don't throw in the towel on your Daisy hat. It looks great so far. All I think you need to do is wet block the petals. Block them with pins and leave them to dry overnight. Then attach them and any holes you might have you can fix up with some more white yarn and a tapestry needle. It will be great!

[Nora]

Ironing the petals under a pillowcase will flatten them, as will blocking them out with pins. [I iron all my hand knits - it's quicker than blocking.]

[seemownay]

Sorry - I cannot offer any help. However I loved your writing on this post. It is so full of "even-though-it-is-not-ok-I-can-still-make -fun-of-myself". There is not many people out there who are that way. So hang in there, you will find a solution!

[teresa]

If the blocking does not work - I am speaking from experience here - change the petals to some wonderful wool felt ones - or polar fleece if shrinkage might be an issue.

Been there done that

Love the stripey ones.

[j. caroline]

I agree with teresa- go with felt flowers. You could put the slightest bit of batting in them to make them fluffy and just sew around the edges. I would never attempt to knit "in the round", so you are on your own there.

[Amy]

I was loving the hat before I read all of the mishaps...just try try again!

[LizKnits]

I'm with the group. The hat looks great. I think with a little blocking and a little more "seaming down" you'll have a hat you can be proud of.

[Pam]

Carrie, what an ADORABLE hat. I had to order the book as soon as I saw this. When I get it and can read the pattern I will have a better idea of what went wrong with your daisy petals. It looks like maybe you knitted when you should have purled when binding off, but I think the key is in the way you sew them on to the hat. Looks like maybe you just need to sew them on with smaller, closer stitches. Good luck!

[Tamara]

The hats are adorable!

[Dakota]

Perhaps you could decorate with some ribbon and little beads if you didn't want to take it out and redo it? I'm not a knitter... so that's probably what I would end up doing.

[Dakota]

Perhaps you could decorate with some ribbon and little beads if you didn't want to take it out and redo it? I'm not a knitter... so that's probably what I would end up doing.

[Mendy]

Knitting is on my list of "stuff I want to learn to do", so I am absolutely no help. However, I think your hat is precious, and you are far too hard on your own work!

[Kathi D]

First, I would be thrilled to be gifted with that sweet hat just as it is, but I'm with the comments that suggest blocking. You know how you can fix a lot of ugly on a purse with a good fierce ironing? Same with the blocking on knitting!

[Kathi D]

First, I would be thrilled to be gifted with that sweet hat just as it is, but I'm with the comments that suggest blocking. You know how you can fix a lot of ugly on a purse with a good fierce ironing? Same with the blocking on knitting!

[erin]

i agree with kniterella. block and sew up any holes. it's way better than you think. if you still don't like it, take it to the yarn store. they can tell you what to do.

[pam]

Aww its sweet. Maybe the daisy is a bit windblown, but still pretty. Love all your hats.

[kiona]

hey carrie

I actually think you are doing just fine! I think the only reason why your looks so different compared to the finished one from the book is by the look of it the petals are anchored down to the hat with a plethora of stitches all around the perimeter of each petal which cause them to lay down and flat so well. I am willing to bet that those petals looked very close to the way yours do before they were stitched down. Don't give up!

[natalie]

that hat is way too cute! makes me want to go out and learn how to knit!!!

[Jona]

I think Kiona is right. I thought "they must be stitched down from the other side" when I saw the "professional" hat. I don't knit (I have enough textile-based addictions) but I do repair my sweaters by stitching them so that's what came to mind.
I just adore those striped hats! If you get pictures of the girls in them please share them, I can't imagine anything cuter!!

[Elaine L.]

The hats are ADORABLE and I can't believe what a fast knitter you have become. I would go back to the yarn store and ask for some help.

Wouldn't that hat be a cute fall pumpkin knitted in orange and green?

~elaine~

[Emily]

SO cute!

[beki]

those are too, too precious!