3-Ply Frivol: why bobbles bob and cables pop
Hello! It’s been a while! Big thanks to all of you who suggested baby patterns — I got a ton of useful information, and I’m truly sorry I haven’t had a chance to thank everybody personally.
I’ve been swamped with the usual mid-semester demands, and just spent a few days out playing shows with the band. But this doesn’t mean I haven’t had time to knit.
A few weeks back, Ashley sent me a skein of the discontinued Rio de la Plata 3-ply as part of a swap. I’d never seen the 3-ply before, and it’s really, really lovely. Squishy and soft and much more hard-wearing than its single-ply sisters.
I immediately cast on for Jared’s fab Koolhaas hat, using a small needle to get gauge. After just a few inches, the hat was stiff and unpleasant, and my gauge was still a bit off.
Then I got this.
The Knitter’s Book of Yarn, by Clara Parkes. It’s brilliant. I read it cover to cover. Not only has it earned an honored place on my shelf next to the meaty knowledge-filled books (Montse, Elizabeth, Barbara), but it’s also got a ton of fabulous patterns by some of your favorite designers.
The book is just what the title says: a guide to yarn. The book jacket says that “The Knitter’s Book of Yarn will teach you everything you need to know about yarn: How it’s made, who makes it, how it gets to you, and what it longs to become.” The “what it longs to become” part is key — you learn all this stuff about yarn so that you can better match yarn + project.
Basically, It explains how different types of fibers and different kinds of constructions determine how a yarn will knit up. (And the patterns are arranged by yarn construction — 2ply, 3ply, chain, etc.) As (practically) a non-spinner, I apparently had a great deal to learn about such things.
And what I learned helped me choose a pattern that would do the Rio justice. According to Parkes, three-ply yarns are like a bar stool — perfectly balanced. And their stability and round shape means that your stitches will be well-defined and plump, and will fill up space generously.
In knitting the Rio on teeny needles, I was trying to stifle that plumpness! I was repressing the natural awesomeness of the yarn! I was a Yarn Fascist, only thinking about the glory of the state FO, when I should have been a Yarn Marxist working to provide space for the development of its own unique yarniness. (Yes, okay, I’ll be done teaching Political Science 101 very soon, and such comparisons will stop. We hope.) The point is that the first hat might have turned out okay, but it wouldn’t have been showing the yarn to its best advantage.
Armed with that knowledge, I hit Ravelry to check out a few patterns Ashley had suggested (yes, she figures strongly into the story of the hat, all the way through — I mean, she’s pretty much my puppetmaster), and settled on Debi’s Frivol hat.
The construction of the thing makes it great fun: it’s knit sideways, and the crown is shaped with short rows.
pattern: Frivol Hat, by Debi Tuttle [pdf]
yarn: Rio de la Plata 3 ply, in Honey Mustard
needles: US8 Addi turbo
I ask you, does life get better than this?
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November 21st, 2007 at 5:12 pm
Beautiful hat! I love the sideways construction, but most of the all the mustardy colour.
When you’re already Pam, why pom? No pom.
November 21st, 2007 at 5:26 pm
No pom - it looks great as is. And now I’m twitching to get home and start reading my copy of that book…
November 21st, 2007 at 5:27 pm
Gorgeous hat! I think with all the lovely bobbles, a pom might be over doing it a bit….
November 21st, 2007 at 5:32 pm
Love love love the hat. And Ashley took great pictures! You’re well on your way to becoming an IK model.
November 21st, 2007 at 5:38 pm
I too vote for no pom. I don’t know why, but in the non-modeled pics, it looks like pie to me. Mmm, yarn pie. Also totally agree on the Book of Yarn. I got my copy last week and I’ve been reading it every night before bed and even though I am only a fraction of the way through it, I can already tell it will earn the coveted title of “Bertha’s Favoritest Knitting Book Ever.”
November 21st, 2007 at 5:41 pm
another anti-pom vote here. Your hat has plenty going on without it!
November 21st, 2007 at 5:45 pm
Fantastic hat!! The yarn looks so squishy and shows off the cables beautifuly.
November 21st, 2007 at 5:49 pm
nice to know the yarn got to be plump like it was supposed to. that book is on my holiday list!
no pom here - i think the bobbles give it enough going on….
November 21st, 2007 at 5:56 pm
The hat is fantastic. While I am usually fervently pro-pom, I agree with the others - no pom on this hat. It’s perfect without it.
November 21st, 2007 at 6:05 pm
I vote against the pom. The hat is perfect just as it is. That color is just total awesomeness. As is that book.
November 21st, 2007 at 6:06 pm
POM.
November 21st, 2007 at 6:09 pm
Go with the Pom. I think it will look right at home with the bobbles.
November 21st, 2007 at 6:11 pm
P
O
M
November 21st, 2007 at 6:13 pm
No pom! Looks great as it is…
November 21st, 2007 at 6:22 pm
I personally like it as it is now, but you could make a pom with a pin so you can have pom-happy and no-pom days.
Thanks for the book review, too. It’s going on my holiday wish list!
November 21st, 2007 at 6:24 pm
It’s lovely, and you made me curious about the book.. By the way, NO pom, I like your hat much more than those of the same kind with pom that I’ve seen at Ravelry..
November 21st, 2007 at 6:27 pm
I’m not anti-pom in general, but I’m voting against it on this hat. I love the shape of it just as it is.
And you’re right, those cables really do pop. More proof that I need that book, as I fear that I, too, am using the wrong yarn for my Koolhaas.
November 21st, 2007 at 6:45 pm
Love the Frivol. No pom. Definitely. Happy Thanksgiving!
November 21st, 2007 at 6:55 pm
Oh, it’s lovely! I just tracked down some of that smae yarn myself because Ashley gave it such rave reviews and it sounded like the perfect marriage - a Malabrigo-esque softness that’s plied! Not only more durable, but for some reason, easier on my somewhat wool sensitive skin.
November 21st, 2007 at 6:57 pm
Love the hat. I might have to cast that on for Christmas!
And what could be cuter than a puppy to run around with.
November 21st, 2007 at 6:58 pm
eeeeh! a puppy! gimme!
the hat is lovely. how about a pom on a safety pin, so you can attach and detach according to the mood of the day? (pam’s pom pin, you should call it.)
November 21st, 2007 at 7:01 pm
Ooh! lovely cabley hat!
November 21st, 2007 at 7:39 pm
I vote for a pom because in the picture of it where it’s laid out flat, it looks like it has a hole in the top. I guess only tall people would see it, but still, it would annoy me.
November 21st, 2007 at 7:44 pm
No Pom! It looks great just the way it is. I love the colour too. I. want. it.
Oh, and look at the cute widdle puppy! Awww!
November 21st, 2007 at 7:50 pm
POM. But I love the pom pin concept. Do as I say. You are my marionette.
Also, yarn marxist? HA!
November 21st, 2007 at 8:23 pm
Oh..you know what I would do instead of a pom? I would do those little corkscrew tassley things from the top. Just 3 or so. I think they would mimic and accentuate the cables nicely. But that’s just me.
I LOVE the hat.
November 21st, 2007 at 8:33 pm
POM! [I think!]
November 21st, 2007 at 9:09 pm
Great hat! But I say no pom. It looks perfect without one.
November 21st, 2007 at 9:34 pm
Very cute hat! I say no pom.
November 21st, 2007 at 10:15 pm
i’m gonna go no pom. i think that hat has enough going on without a pom. fantastic hat!
November 21st, 2007 at 10:17 pm
Agreed! Definitely no pom!! (Yes, my strong feeling in this matter warrants the use of two exclamation points.)
November 21st, 2007 at 10:42 pm
I’m with Stacey and Deb re: the risk of Texture Overload.
And in fact I’m not above a certain amount of emotional blackmail: if you add a pom, I will cry.
By the way, I was enjoying the political yarn analogies enormously, so I hope the PS101 doesn’t stop soon.
November 22nd, 2007 at 12:15 am
No Pom!! The color and pattern alone does it all!
I already had the book on my wishlist, but looks like I will need to bump it up ASAP!
Happy Thanksgiving!!
November 22nd, 2007 at 1:49 am
I am am fan of the pom, but in this case, NO WAY NO HOW! That hat is perfect the way it is, and thanks for that book reference, it looks really interesting.
November 22nd, 2007 at 3:38 am
I have that book and, like you, I read it cover to cover. It was definitely worth its price.
November 22nd, 2007 at 4:05 am
Yarn Fascist!! Yarn Fascist!
I say No to pom, though I do love me a pom, because I think it is the exact opposite of a bobble, and the bobbles are too awesome on that hat.
PS I want a puppy. And to hang out with Ashley and Bailey.
November 22nd, 2007 at 4:11 am
The hat is true awesomeness without the pom. Although it definitely needs a puppy accessory at all times…
November 22nd, 2007 at 5:02 am
Love the hat! That book is at the top of my holiday wish-list.
This is most definitely a busy time of the academic year. I’m afraid that I’ll be grading and sending out emails to students tomorrow.
November 22nd, 2007 at 5:47 am
Pom… and I want to play with the puppy too!
November 22nd, 2007 at 8:42 am
Beautiful hat, Pamela! The colour is perfect for you. I wóuld go pomless (is that a word?) if I were you, I think the hat looks great as it is.
November 22nd, 2007 at 10:14 am
Ooh, no pom. This hat = ’nuff said. Bobbles and cables, v. good; pom overkill would be, young jedi.
(Sorry, very strange mood today. Must be Thursday.)
November 22nd, 2007 at 12:53 pm
no pom….
and the fascist/marxist paragraph - genius.
November 22nd, 2007 at 2:29 pm
the intensity of the color of your hat looks amazing against the gray building!
dude, make the pom. poms are so super cute.
i am thoroughly enjoying the Knitter’s Book of Yarn too.
November 22nd, 2007 at 3:33 pm
I am 100% pro-pom! Since it’s bright green, and already full of popping bobbles and cables, I think you should add the over-the-top pom at the end. I mean, the leftover yarn WANTS a purpose, it WANTS to be a pom. You don’t want to start being a yarn fascist again, do you? (by the way, I totally called my professor a fascist the other day. Oops.)
November 22nd, 2007 at 4:42 pm
OMG the pom/no pom debate is raging! I say no pom too, reminds me too much of all the crazy acrylic things my grandmother knit, all with pom poms. (Also reminds me of horrible long gone days when I tried to be a pom pom girl, but that’s another subject entirely!)
But maybe one of those subtle little tassels on a braided string? Again echoing the braid-y-ness of the cables but without the assertiveness of a pom? Funny how everyone has an opinion on this, huh?
November 22nd, 2007 at 6:14 pm
pompompompom. they’re totally kitsch. after i saw yours on flickr! i started one. how did i let this pattern sneak by????
November 22nd, 2007 at 6:52 pm
Love the hat. No need for pom. Good girl doing your research.
November 22nd, 2007 at 8:09 pm
no pom please, its perfect just the way it is… gorgeous color and looks great on you!!
November 22nd, 2007 at 10:02 pm
No pom. Wish I could hang with Bailey. And you and Ashley, as well!
Seriously, cute hat. And I really, really, really want that book.
November 22nd, 2007 at 11:20 pm
Great hat! Now I feel I need to get that book…I think it will still teach me a lot, even as a spinner.
In regards to Pom. I’d say no. It will take away the attention from all the bobbles. And it will be waaaaaaaay too much with the bobbles.
November 23rd, 2007 at 4:02 pm
Wow, what a great hat! I’m hoping to snuggle up with that book this weekend, myself.
I vote no pom. It looks divine as-is.
November 23rd, 2007 at 4:29 pm
What a lovely hat! Beautiful work!
I really appreciate your thoughts on matching yarn to projects– you’re so right: most yarns are destined for specific types of projects, and forcing them to be anything else is a losing battle. I’m engaged in one of those battles right now making a baby sweater. I think I will stop forcing and try to see what the yarn wants to be– afterall there are so many baby sweater patterns out there! One must be perfect for this yarn!
Thank you!
November 23rd, 2007 at 9:47 pm
that hat looks great! i love Clara’s book and i keep mine on the nightstand for now.
puppy!!!
November 24th, 2007 at 11:29 am
It’s a great hat. No Pom.
November 24th, 2007 at 1:26 pm
I think pom but then again a pom would match the bobbles. So, I’m no help at all.
November 25th, 2007 at 4:48 pm
Yes, pom! It’s a great hat — I love the colour — and it’s true that the yarn is perfectly bopping and popping. Lovely! And the puppy, of course, takes the photo shoot to a whole other level. What’s cuter than you AND a blurry puppy?
November 26th, 2007 at 1:43 am
No pom-it’s perfect!
November 26th, 2007 at 1:48 pm
Pom all the way. I think it would take it from cute hat to perfect hat.
November 26th, 2007 at 8:39 pm
Fabulous hat. A little pom would be bad, I think. A giant pom, though, would be excellent. And a giant pom on a pin–that would be perfection itself.
November 27th, 2007 at 3:12 am
POM!!
November 28th, 2007 at 7:57 pm
OK that does it - I’m ordering that book!
No pom.
Yay puppies!
December 1st, 2007 at 4:26 am
Love the hat! I would pom.
December 5th, 2007 at 7:35 pm
What a fantastic hat, and the puppy photos look great.
December 7th, 2007 at 6:33 am
Great hat!! I vote no pom but a giant detachable pom would be a very good thing.
December 29th, 2007 at 12:02 pm
Love your hat. I am having difficulties to download the pattern. Could you please email it to me ? Most grateful.
December 12th, 2008 at 7:48 pm
just wanted to thank you for posting this. i starting knitting the frivol hat years ago and never finished. i thought about it tonight and wanted to make it but couldn’t remember the name or where i found it. i found this post through a google search so now i can start fresh! thanks!