The Antonio Hat- July competition

 ( the 2 winners from June 2012 oddments yarn give away are:  Innersparkle and Nicole )

             Sombrero de Lana                                           

Staying again this month with the muskox and Anthonio banderas theme as we spun up some of the yarn from 13th Warrior Hides. Because the qiviut fibre is quite old/heirloom quality we have decided to use all of it in a blended type yarn.
We made a lovely NEW blend of 50% qiviut - 50% Cashmere.....sinfully soft and spun into a 3ply that's to die for.....it really is that SOFT !

                                          This is the Natural colored yarn

Despite the picture this yarn is quite light in color, a sort of oatmeal shade. The cashmere we added is very, very white and because of this the cashmere picks up the color in the dye pot long before the darker qiviut so you end up with slightly heathery colored yarns.....quite beautiful. To see colors go here: www.cottagecraftangora.com/decadent-yarn-new/4566148546

The Giveaway/competition:
To win the yarn to knit both his and her hats tell us 'the birth place of Antonio banderas' including Town and region, including the color yarn you would like to be sent (if you are the winner) from the colors listed on the web page using the link above ! Also includes the pandors stle bead and broach finding.

 One winner drawn at random from correct answers.

 Open to knitters world wide.

From : 2nd July 2012 TO 31st July 2012

The Antonio Hat pattern.

knit in the round, a simple plain rib stitch brim that is turned up and measures 3.5'' inches long so that when it is turned back it covers the whole depth of the ears properly.....ideal for cold Arctic weather Conditions.

The 2nd hat is a lacey design for a woman or knit another Antonio hat and add a bow detail. Both patterns included here. Will post more pattern details as the days progress !

You will need: 3 skeins of Decadent yarn 3ply DK weight, 30 gram skeins
(3 skeins knits both hats)
#4 US - 3.5mm circular needle
#6 US - 4.mm circular needle-40cm max,
#4 US - 3.5mm straights,
same size as above D.P.N's,
Stitch marker,
wool needle,
Pandors style bead,
Broach finding.

Tension: 24st = 4'' - 32 rows = 4'' on 3.5mm - US #4

cast on 102sts, join to work in the rnd, pm.
rnd 1: k1, p2 to marker
Rep the rnd above for 25 rnds for the turn up brim.

This is how much i have so far!

                                                     

      This picture above looks more like the true color.
Next: Knit 1 rnd. Then change to larger needles and then rep the k1, p2 rnds another 8 times, then knit 34 rnds in knit stitch. After this you will begin the Dec shaping as shown below.

I'm knitting this for my husband who has a large head so its best if you measure and try the hat on the intended recipient - you may need to knit less rows !
 Another thing with this yarn is that it has Little to No Memory, the correct fitting hat should be quite snug as it will stretch !

Dec Shaping:

Rnd 1:*K15, k2tog, rep from * to end

Rnd 2: and all alternate rnds, k without shaping.

Rnd 3: *K14, k2tog, rep from * to end.

Rnd 5: *K13, k2tog, rep from * to end.

Rnd 7: *K12, k2tog, rep from * to end.

Rnd 9: *K11, k2tog, rep from * to end.

Rnd 11:*K10,k2tog, rep from * to end.

Rnd 13:*k9, k2tog, rep from * to end.

Rnd 15:*k8,k2tog, rep from * to end.

Rnd 17: *K7,k2tog,rep from * to end.

Rnd 19:*K6, k2tog, rep from * to end.

Rnd 21: *K5, k2tog, rep from * to end.

Rnd 23: *K4, k2tog, rep from * to end.

Rnd 25: *K3,k2tog, rep from * to end.

Rnd 27: *K2, k2tog, rep from * to end.

Rnd 28: *k2tog to end, break yarn leaving a small tail, pull through remaining sts and fasten off, sew tail inside hat.

Voila....Antonio hat complete !

Lady version....with a bow !

To knit the bow...... on 3.5mm- US4 straights, cast on 14 sts,  k 18 rows garter, bind/cast off, pull
Pandora style bead onto center so it gathers, then stitch the bow shape to broach finding and attach to hat as shown.

Did not get time to knit a lacey hat because at the moment we are spending a lot of time clipping Angora rabbits when not spinning yarns. A lovely lace hat pattern that will knit to the same tension is the Lotus hat on ravelry, found herewww.ravelry.com/patterns/library/lotus-hat
I have knit the Lotus hat a few times to give as gifts and it really is a lovely pattern !

Winner will be posted on the 1st August.....check back to see if its you !