BIRDIE

BIRDIE is a fun, but feminine slouch hat.  The pretty Drawn Loop Rib band creates a soft framing of the face, while the light-hearted Little Birds stitch pattern in the main body plays with all the beautiful colours of the yarn.  The yarn I speak of is Rios, by Malabrigo.  The very first time I saw it I new knew I wanted to design this hat.

    

Zarzamora is my first love in the Malabrigo colour line-up.  Splashes of green provide interest, but it has an over-all almost semi-solid appearance.  For this reason, although the multitude of colours in this yarn blend a bit in the background, the little drawn cable cross-overs let each colour stand out on its own at one point or another.

In contrast, Arco Iris creates a more muted finish, despite its very multi-coloured personality.  I love how it is just all colour and texture, but in a vintage, subdued way.  Not matter what hand-dyed yarn or colour-way you choose, this design was made for it.  The stitch patterns were specifically chosen to work with these types of yarns to help break up pooling, while still showing off all of the yarns fabulous colours.

However, I think that a semi-solid or solid colour would still make an incredible hat.  It would just mean that the finished project would be more about texture, and not colour play.

I have to admit that this particular hat, in this particular coulor-way, is my favourite hat to wear.  I like that it has just a bit of slouch, with a hole lot of style.  I have seen people wearing this design down on the forehead, as I do, and also back on the head in a more fashionable way, and both look great.

Interested in knitting this project?  Here is some helpful information.

SIZE:  Average Ladies [54cm-56cm (21-22")] 

GAUGE:  23 sts/32 rows = 10cm (4") in Little Birds stitch pattern on 5mm (8US) needles

MATERIALS:  

• 1-100g skein Rios by Malabrigo
• 4.5mm (7US) - 40cm (16 inch) circ. needle
• 5mm (8US)  - 40cm (16 inch) circ.needle
• 1 set 5mm (8US) dpn
• 5.5mm (9US) needles (for cast-on)
• cable needle
• stitch marker

Malabrigo's Rios is a beautiful yarn to work with, but any worsted weight hand-dye, semi-solid, or solid will work with this pattern.