Not sure if anyone else experiences this, but over the years I go through knitting stages. It’s like a hype-focused stage where I only knit certain items for a period of time. Similar to the Era’s Tour, each phase represents what’s happening in my life. Last year, I took a career break and I had time, so that was my sweater era. This year, knitting time is rather limited competing with other activities like work (it does get in the way doesn’t it?) so knitting sweaters are few and far between.
With December upon us and scrambling to make loved ones the perfect handmade gift, I have now officially embarked upon my beanie era. It’s perfect. I can knit in the cracks of meetings. I can knit maybe while I’m on meetings (not presenting of course). I can knit while watching my little one at her gymnastics. I’ve knit some bulky hats (some of my favourite patterns by BKnits) and even tried one of the most popular ravelry free downloads – the sockhead hat.
But as 2024 wraps up, I’m claiming it the year of the Jake Beanie by Kayla Dewald. Are you aware of the Jake Beanie? It’s one of my favourite hat patterns - hands down. It’s a must have. A closet staple. The folded brim and a bit of room at the crown style makes it a cool, hipster make – regardless if you are a tween or in your golden years (and anywhere in between). You cannot go wrong with this make. And I consider this gender neutral. It’s perfect.
Jake Beanie is that one skein wonder stash buster. It offers 4 weights – Worsted, Aran, Bulky or Super Bulky Light. I love patterns that offer different weights as you can see how each one looks like and then pick your favourite! The possibilities are endless. You can pair mohair or suri with dk to make a worsted weight one. You can pair either to Worsted to make the Aran weight one. Normally I need to make adjustments like adding length - I didn’t have to adjust this pattern to fit my head and I just love the fit. Key is for this pattern is gauge and measurement (over rows). AND it’s super fast to knit. It’s knit in the round and with the exception of folding the brim (knitting the cast on to your current row), it’s even keel until you start the crown shaping.
Over the last couple of weeks I’ve made one in:
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Malabrigo Rios (light worsted) paired with FireFly Haven Fibre Suri Alpaca Silk Lace
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DK from a US indie dyer paired with Leo & Roxy Mohair Silk
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DK from Hedgehog Fibres paired with Leo & Roxy Mohair Silk
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Hokohoko worsted weight (our recent trunk show!)
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Fiesty Fibres worsted weight (purchased from the summer trunk show)
So if you are scrambling wanting to make a beautiful handmade gift and fretting it’s less than two weeks away…look for those odd skeins in your stash and knit a Jake Beanie. Knit one for your bestie, your brother / sister, your mum / dad, your coworker, your neighbor, your kid’s teacher…the list is endless. One thing for sure is that you will be super happy with this make and so will the recipient.
Wishing you and your loved one the happiest of holidays and may 2025 be a year of crafting abundance for you.
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