Spindlicity-an online magazine for handspinners

By Janel Laidman

SPECS:

WPI: 11-12
Gauge: 5˝ stitches per inch
Finished dimensions: 9Ľ inches in diameter
Fiber: 2.2 oz handpainted Optim

I purchased a small amount of luxurious Optim to experiment with.

Optim is a fine merino from Australia that has been processed and permanently stretched. The resulting fiber is thinner than Merino and drafts like silk, yet it retains the loft and warmth of wool. Spun Optim has no itchiness and makes a very lightweight garment. For more information about Optim, see our article about it in the Winter 2005 issue of Spindlicity.

After hand painting the Optim in a bright combination of magenta, orange and chartreuse, I began to spin and found that it spun up very easily! Smooth like silk, but not as slippery, it made a lofty and lightweight yarn which was buttery soft.

I had two colorways: madras, a combination of magenta, orange and chartreuse; and iris, a combination of violet and moss. I two-plied the Madras to mix the colors in a random confetti style, and Navajo plied the Iris to preserve the separation of violet and green. Both yarns came out lofty and soft and drapey at about 11-12 wpi.

Since I only had a small amount, I knew I had to come up with a small pattern… and immediately thought of a spunky beret for spring.

Optim Cap

Abbreviations:

CO Cast on

K, k Knit

P, p Purl

st, sts Stitch, stitches

K2tog Knit 2 together (a 1-stitch decrease)

S2KP Slip 2 sts together knitwise, knit 1, pass the 2 slipped stitches over the stitch just knitted (a 2-stitch decrease)

M Make a stitch by knitting into the stitch below (M1 = Make 1 st, M2 = Make 2 sts, etc.)

*...* Repeat the instructions between the asterisks for the rest of the round, unless otherwise directed

CO 104 stitches onto a circular needle and join, taking care not to twist your stitches.

K1, P1 rib for 1 inch.

Next round: *K 3, M 1*, which will increase by 34 sts (138 sts total).

Next round: K, work M1 twice randomly placed to increase to 140 sts.

Work in stockinette st (knit a round, purl a round) for 8 rounds.

P for 5 rounds.

K for 8 rounds.

P for 5 rounds.

Divide into 7 sections of 20 sts each, place st marker between each section.

S2KP: Slip 2 sts together knitwise, knit 1, pass the 2 slipped stitches over the stitch just knitted (a 2-stitch decrease)

Crown:

For each section decrease as below, following chart for color changes.

Round 1: *S2KP, K17* (126 sts remaining).

Round 2 and all even numbered rounds to Round 18: K.

Round 3: *S2KP, K15* (112 sts remaining).

Round 5: *S2KP, K13* (98 sts remaining).

Round 7: *S2KP, K11* (84 sts remaining).

Round 9: *S2KP, K9* (70 sts remaining).

Round 11: *S2KP, K7* (56 sts remaining).

Round 13: *S2KP, K5* (42 sts remaining).

Round 15: *S2KP, K3* (28 sts remaining).

Round 17: *S2KP, K1* (14 sts remaining.

Round 19: *K2tog* (7 sts remaining).

Round 20: K1, K2tog, K1, K2tog, K1 (5 sts remaining).

Knit 4 rounds of I-cord, break yarn, pull through remaining loops and cinch tight. Finish by pulling yarn end through I-cord end to inside of hat.