PurlBee Laura's Loop Heel Stitch Hat

Another hat done!

as modeled by El Hub...

 

This is another hat for my FIL for his birthday (along with the 70's ski hat)!

This pattern is also from PurlBee and it's the Laura's Loop Heel Stitch Hat.

This pattern is really easy and it really did work up fast!

I will say, though... 

Heel stitch for extended periods of time is hard on the hands!

I just found that with this pattern, my hands would get a bit stiff and tired.

And I'm a loose knitter!

Other than that, there's not much else to say on this one!

I used the Plymouth Encore Worsted Weight yarn (in # 1383 Bright Orange), 

which I've really come to like as a basic, good old yarn!

Ok... so speaking of being a loose knitter!

I'd originally made this hat (with the green Plymouth Encore) and the needle size the pattern calls for, which is size 8 circulars (16")...

and it came out HUGE!!!!!!

HUGE!

And it's all because I didn't make my gauge!!!

HUGE!

When I finally did make my gauge (after the frustration of completing a hat and seeing it be HUGE!), I realized that I needed to go DOWN three needle sizes!

So I ended up making the orange hat with size 5 circulars and it came out perfect!

So the moral of the story is... 

CHECK YOUR GAUGE!

(unless you want crazy huge 'tortilla holder' sized hats)

:)