Corn on the Nod is finished.
This little guy used one full skein of Crystal Palace Maizy in Bittersweet (dark purple) and about a half a skein of Crystal Palace Maizy in Neptune (variegated blues, purples and greens). I knit it on US#1/2.25mm needles.
From the hem to the top of the argyle, I used one method of double knitting in which both the front and back of the knitting are knit in a single row. This produces a fabric that is double thickness, reversible and attached, so that the two sides cannot be separated.
For the striped areas, I used a second form of double knitting that allows you to knit in the round on straight needles. You knit the front on one row, then turn and knit the back. The front and back sections are not attached to each other. It's the same method I use to knit the fingers on my Hooray For Me Gloves. Once I started the shaping, on the crown and ear flaps, I separated the stitches onto two circulars and knit in the round per the standard two-circs method.
In the argyle areas, the two sides have reversed color patterns. In the striped areas both sides are identical. This gives both sides of the hat a unique but unified look. I thought I'd like the mostly purple side more, but now that it's finished, I'm lean a little more towards other side. Luckily, I don't have to choose.
As you can see here, my seaming is a bit wonky in areas. In hindsight, I should have worked the selvage stitches slightly differently in the first double knit section, so that seaming would be easier.
Thoughts on the yarn
Maizy is a great option for people who want a plant fiber yarn with a little memory. The corn is soft and comfortable to wear against the skin and the elastic content gives the fabric just enough memory. This yarn seems to be geared towards sock knitters but could certainly be used in a variety of applications.There are a few things about which I'd caution you. Firstly, is blocking. I have not touched iron to this fabric but I've seen swatches of corn based fibers that looked decidedly melted in spots. I would be hesitant to use this for anything lacy that would need serious blocking. Additionally, the yarn is pretty splitty which means you do need to keep an eye on what you are doing, but it's certainly manageable. Finally, this yarn is horrible for seaming. I would highly recommend subbing out Maizy for some embroidery floss for any seaming you might do. Otherwise, though, it's a great yarn and the hat even passes Leo's stringent standards for comfort.
Thoughts on double knitting
I like how even my colorwork looks with this method, and I suspect I'll use it again sometime, but I find it a slow process and wouldn't want to have to do it with any regularity. Still, it was fun to work a project in a technique I have not used much before.Share this post
Comments (21)
Gorgeous hat!
Posted by Jan | March 21, 2008 5:19 PM
Posted on March 21, 2008 17:19
Would you consider writing up a pattern for your hat? And/or, as Nik, asked a picture tutorial for the kind of double knitting you described for the argyle part - where the sides do not separate?
I'd be one, probably of many, grateful readers.
Posted by amy | January 24, 2008 9:57 AM
Posted on January 24, 2008 09:57
that isw just the cutest hat - is a pattern on the way? I'd certainly love to by it. That double thich hat would be perfect fo Chicago winters. I normally don't like color work - either to knit or wear - it just doesn't appeal to me that much but this is just adorable.
Posted by Donna | January 24, 2008 8:03 AM
Posted on January 24, 2008 08:03
It looks great. You should do a tutorial on double knitting. Or have you already done it and I just need to look around more.
Posted by Nik | January 23, 2008 8:11 PM
Posted on January 23, 2008 20:11
Hey Lady,
this is brilliant and gorgeous! i don't think you know HOW to knit anything prosaic?
anyway, pretty please may i post your pics and link to you for our cpy blog??
ps. there's a panda silk contest [last month of 4] ongoing, so do come comment on top post.
blessings, :L
ps i adore your color choices. i'm using the same two on a sock but i think your design puts me in the shade. i'd love to visit through the looking glass into your imagination!
pps was ill and unable to give my talk on twining and i don't think the last-minute substitute used your great BOMBSHELL bikini pics. now you have me wondering about twining the hat as an alternative.
Posted by drlaura | January 23, 2008 6:16 PM
Posted on January 23, 2008 18:16
Wow, that is a gorgeous hat and I am inspired that you used our Maizy for it! I love the way the printed Neptune color forms the argyles on the solid background.
Did you design it?
You may hear from Laura Andersson, our SocksAndMore blog/sock guru to ask if we can show it off with a link from our blog.
Congratulations on a lovely project!
Susan Druding
Crystal Palace Yarns
Posted by Susan Druding | January 23, 2008 5:57 PM
Posted on January 23, 2008 17:57
You used corn yarn! You are so cool. I spent last week in Hawaii, and managed to find the only yarn store on the island of Kauai, and bought some bamboo there. I'm going to be boring and make socks, but I'm so proud of my sister. She sort of accidentally bought some baby alpaca for a scarf. Right now, she's just wearing the hanks around her neck around the house. Now I need to get some corn yarn. I think it's my life's purpose to own at least some of every yarn there is. Buffalo and camel are next. And if someone figures out how to make yarn out of flowers.
Posted by Kathy in KS | January 23, 2008 5:03 PM
Posted on January 23, 2008 17:03
This is amazing - I love it! Beautiful, clever, and really cute!
Posted by Mary-Heather | January 23, 2008 11:19 AM
Posted on January 23, 2008 11:19
It looks wonderful! I bet it will be nice and warm for those Mt Hood hikes!
Posted by Jody | January 23, 2008 10:05 AM
Posted on January 23, 2008 10:05
That's a brilliant use of double knitting. Especially in the round on the straight needles for the top of the hat.
Posted by yogahz | January 23, 2008 8:49 AM
Posted on January 23, 2008 08:49
I love the way that you decide you want to try out a new technique and then just go. Great hat - it's super cute. I may do something similar in a baby hat. I've been considering doing a bit of fair isle for a little flap hat, and the reversibility of this technique is really appealing.
Posted by Julia | January 23, 2008 8:29 AM
Posted on January 23, 2008 08:29
That hat looks so warm and cozy- and I love the colors together! Thanks also for sharing your impression of the corn- I've been curious.
Posted by Nonnahs | January 23, 2008 8:05 AM
Posted on January 23, 2008 08:05
Very nice! The colors you picked out work well together. And the earflaps are a cute touch!
Posted by seedless grape | January 23, 2008 7:36 AM
Posted on January 23, 2008 07:36
Very cute! I've been wanting to try double knitting, but I'm somewhat terrified of it. This turned out great!
Posted by mick | January 23, 2008 6:21 AM
Posted on January 23, 2008 06:21
Beautiful! It's so cool that it's reversible!! I may have to try this double knitting thing. :)
Posted by Lani | January 23, 2008 5:29 AM
Posted on January 23, 2008 05:29
Very cute hat. And thanks for the review of Maizy. my local shop just started carrying it, and I've been considering it (just to try it).
By the way, great action shot of Panda in the last post.
Posted by amy | January 23, 2008 3:42 AM
Posted on January 23, 2008 03:42
This is really pretty!
Posted by Ginger aka Beethoven | January 23, 2008 12:30 AM
Posted on January 23, 2008 00:30
Yes..lovely....has me feeling the need to try some of this double knitting technique!
Posted by Gudrun | January 22, 2008 11:04 PM
Posted on January 22, 2008 23:04
That looks fabulous! Well done!
I haven't used any corn-based fiber, but I've definitely heard that it will melt with heat.
Posted by Janice in GA | January 22, 2008 9:06 PM
Posted on January 22, 2008 21:06
that looks awesome. double knitting and argyle together, two of my favorite things!!
Posted by mai | January 22, 2008 8:03 PM
Posted on January 22, 2008 20:03
Cute hat! I'll have to try those double knitting techniques... some day.
Posted by Janice | January 22, 2008 7:21 PM
Posted on January 22, 2008 19:21