The trilogy of the fair isle hats ends with a beginning. After the workshop I began to think about the other fair isle knits I've done. My Flora hat has been a pretty popular knit on Ravelry. It was one of the first patterns I published here. I remember sitting at my desk and drawing all those vines and leaves and being so excited at how they emerged in my knitting. The pattern I've noticed has a mistake (it says to work chart 3x but it's really 4) but for a first time try it wasn't too shabby! It's been made into 248 hats, a few cowls and even a little girl's dress!
But before Flora there was another fair isle hat that has sat long lost in my WIP pile. That is my dear Orla. I am majorly obsessed with the designer Orla Kiely. When she had products being sold in Target I nearly bought out the closest 3 near my home. I especially love her signature repeating leaf pattern and thought about how that would translate to a hat. I remember knitting like a demon on it but running out of yarn just as I was decreasing for the crown. The original hat had a fold in hem and was knit out of two solid colors. While I knew I could have just bought another ball and finish the hat, I decided to rip that sucker out and start over with new yarn.
Pattern: Orla (my own!)
Yarn: Spud&Chloe Sweater, 1ball and Lorna's Laces Shepherd Multi, color Fresh
Needles: US 5 & 7s
I am so proud of this pattern and hope you will enjoy making it! It's easily memorized and will lend itself to any solid or variegated worsted weight.
I am making some final touches to the PDF and will be publishing it both here and as a Ravelry download very soon!
Roll credits! ;-)
very very ver pretty. I can't wait for the pattern. Well Done!!!!
Kelly
willknitforbeer09 on ravelry
Posted by: kelly | November 15, 2010 at 10:13 PM
I LOVE Orla. I too went a little crazy with her Target collection. So this hat is a must for me. Thank you!
Posted by: Kara | November 16, 2010 at 09:05 AM
It's brilliant, M!!
Posted by: Lolly | November 16, 2010 at 09:53 AM
ooh, I love your take on Orla Kiely's classic leaf design! It looks amazing in hat form. Love it!
Posted by: Julie | November 16, 2010 at 10:01 AM
Very cute! I'm a huge Orla Kiely fan myself, and can't wait to knit one up.
Posted by: Jodi | November 16, 2010 at 12:39 PM
I love it! Now some of my leftover Lorna's Laces will go to good use.
Posted by: Shannon | November 16, 2010 at 12:40 PM
Orla is a revelation!! LOVE IT:)
Posted by: Heather | November 17, 2010 at 08:12 PM
It's beautiful Margaux!
Posted by: Anna | November 18, 2010 at 09:08 AM
I just discovered Flora (I'm a little slow) and it will be going on the needles today. It's beautiful. Thank you so much! Looking forward to Orla.
Cheers.
Posted by: Barbara from Nova Scotia | November 21, 2010 at 02:29 PM