Friday, February 09, 2007

Coiffed


When the temperature dips below -10 or so, it's really too cold to be vain. Still, there have been a couple of days recently when I've put my hair in a ponytail only to have it seriously messed up from being under a toque. Then I remembered a pattern I've loved since I first saw it almost four years ago (about 16 in knitblog years?) in Knitty: the Shocking pink coif designed by Megan of Not Martha. Now, I know the more recent Calorimetry pattern is sweeping the knitwaves this season, but I'm not convinced it's got the ear coverage necessary for seriously cold weather. But the coif? Ohh, the coif. Here it is again, this morning, passing the warmth-and-coverage test with flying colours -- and in flying snow, no less:


Very toasty. I knit my coif from one 100g ball of Gianna (50% wool, 50% soysilk). According to the website, colour 048 is "coffee bean," but in reality it's a dark reddy-browny eggplant. It's warm and soft, but I've never come across so many knots in a ball of yarn! It was ridiculous. The first knot came about half a meter into the ball; a few meters later there were two more knots within a few inches of each other; and after I'd knit the i-cord I went to pull out some more yarn and the strand pulled right out of the ball! What's worse, knots or separate pieces that aren't even knotted together? Sheesh. So I can't recommend the yarn. I figure if you're going to charge $15 for 100 grams of yarn, you can give me a continuous strand thankyouverymuch.

(By the way, the original pattern ties under the chin with st. st. straps; I worked a 2-stitch i-cord on one side instead, sewed it into a loop, and sewed a button on the other side. I didn't block the coif, mostly because I finished it late last night and wanted to wear it this morning, but also because it shouldn't actually be completely flat, or it won't curl around your head properly.) I love this ... headpiece. Don't forget about those bygone patterns! This one is a treasure.

11 comments:

jodi said...

This is really cute, Alison. Calorimetry is perfect for bike riding here in the south where it rarely gets colder than one or two below zero, but it only covers the tops of my ears and would not suffice were I back home. I think I want one of these too, especially since I bought a few wonderful vintage glass buttons today and this seems the perfect way to show them off. And I won't be living here in too-warm-land forever.

Veronique said...

I don't think I ever noticed that pattern! What a good find! It fits you perfectly and keeps your ears warm: what more could a girl want?

Karine said...

Cute coif. I'm racking my brain for a new hat pattern...

Chris said...

It turned out great!! My Calorimetry actually does cover my ears really well. :)

Anonymous said...

Cute! Too bad that yarn was full of knots because it looks pretty. But even the prettiest yarn in the world can't make up for tons o' knots!

La Cabeza Grande said...

You adaption is brilliant! I've got some wonderful buttons and new yarn longing for a purpose.

I thank you (and my braids thank you) for the link.

Cambria said...

Thanks for the reminder for that pattern! I have thick, curly hair, and a ton of it. Hat's are out! I was looking at the latest version of this for myself but also had second thoughts about ear coverage so this is gonna be great!

Lolly said...

Definitely a treasure! Looks great on you too. Love the big button!

Anonymous said...

so cute! i love the big button. bummer about the yarn trouble, though, because a wool/soy silk blend sounds sooo nice.

Anonymous said...

It looks so lovely and snowy! I want to live in Montreal.

Anonymous said...

it's lovely! I, too, adopted the pattern to use a button. Then I promptly gifted it. Now I want one of my own!