Knitters do it in a circle

My first attempt at a hat went better than I thought it would go. I got a pair of #8 circulars and sat down with some Lion brand Wool-ease yarn. I started with a 4x4 guage swatch and just multiplied it out to figure out the base size. I started the knitting out with a knit two, purl two rib pattern for a few inches and then just switched to stockingnet stitch.



Seeing my creation take shape, I got excited and started decreasing way too soon. When I picked up the circular needles at my local yarn shop, I asked the owner when you know its time to switch to double points. She said that when the circulars get too cramped and tight to work with, you should have switched probably two rows earlier. Thats exactly what happened. I waited until it was terribly difficult to work with the circulars and then had one heck of a time trying to slip the stitches on to the double points. I did a basic decrease, starting with K6, K2tog; K all; K5, K2tog; K all, rinse repeat until I had just a few stitches left, and then thread the tail through and pull them together.

Once it was off the needles it was pretty clear that it was too shallow for me, but surprisingly it fits my son pretty well. I really liked making it, and enjoyed not using a pattern at all. I learned a lot from it and will apply what I learned to the next hat which I'll probably start here soon.