I’m still working on the wool fleeces. I brought 4 of them in and only one was un-usable. It just has so much chaff embedded in the fleece that I find I don’t have the patience or desire to work with this one at all.

I’m trying to decide which of the other 3 fleeces I want to use to make the man’s sweater that I have in mind. I need gauge swatches for the measurements but I also need them to see how each of the yarns will perform for me. I know what I want in terms of softness, drape, body, colour and attitude. For my gauge swatch I decided to make a new hat rather than a little knitted square. Here is pattern.

Very easy, very quick (just a few hours to make), and very warm.

Order the handspun wool yarn from us here. “Design it yourself” custom handspun yarn. Or contact me with a specific request if you don’t see your yarn listed.

Lots more wool yarns coming soon.
I am working on Rare Sheep Breeds and Breed Specific Wool Yarns now and hope to have them available to order soon (Feb – March 2013)

Swatch Cap

Size
Adult Medium

Gauge
4.5 stitches per inch, 5.5 rows per inch

Needle Size and Description:
5mm needle 16 inch circular and a set of same in double points

Materials: about 100 yards of Worsted weight handspun wool  (approx 3  ounces)

Finished Measurements: 20 inches around. 8 inches high

Brim:

Cast on 80 sts. Place marker, join. (you know the routine, be carefull not to twist)
Beginning with a purl row, work in garter stitch for 10 rows 5-6 ridges.
Increase 8 stitches, evenly spaced, over last row. (88 sts.)

Body:

Work in rounds with stocking stitch (knitting every row) until you have 6″ (or desired length)

Crown: (about 2 inches)

Round 1: *Work 6, k2tog. Repeat from * around. [77 sts remain]

Round 2: Work even

Round 3: *Work 5, k2tog. Repeat from * around. [66 sts remain]

Round 4: Work even

Round 5: *Work 4, k2tog. Repeat from * around. [55 sts remain]

Round 6: Work even

Round 7: *Work 3, k2tog. Repeat from * around. [44 sts remain]

Round 8: *Work 2, k2tog. Repeat from * around. [33 sts remain]

Round 9: *Work 1, k2tog. Repeat from * around. [22 sts remain]

Round 10: *K2tog. Repeat from * around. [11 sts remain]

Finishing:

Break yarn leaving a generous tail. Draw tail through remaining stitches on the needle. Pull gently to close hole. Weave in tails.