knitting lemonade

I have a special gift. I happen to look really good in hats. It doesn't matter how ridiculous the hat, I will rock it. It is like my mutant power, or something. The call me, FEDORA, Crusader of Cloches, Heroine of Headresses! (Um...sorry, I got carried away there.) I hope this all doesn't sound conceited. That's not my intention at all.

So despite my superhuman ability, I was still nervous knitting the Brooklyn Cap. I mean, first of all, I was knitting with orange yarn. Orange, people?! Plus, there was going to be the felting. I have never, ever felted before. So the odds were stacked against me. How could a felted, orange trendy hat look any good?

I think it turned out, right? Is my title of "chic sporter of hats" still safe?

Here are the stats, real quick:
Pattern: Brooklyn Cap
Source: Interweave Knits, Summer 2006
Yarn: Lamb's Pride Worsted in Tiger Lily from Brown Sheep Co.
Size: Medium
Mods: I knitted with worsted yarn (from my stash, baby!) held double throughout.

And if y'all are interested, here's the life story of the Brooklyn Cap, or Cappy as I fondly call her.

Here is Cappy pre-felting. What a big girl she was...








Then we have the big drop into the washer. Never having felted before, this was a big deal for me. I grabbed some jeans and a old pillowcase and went to work. Wash cycle after wash cycle, I would check on Cappy. "Does she look any smaller? I just can't tell anymore." Oh, my poor nerves.



Eventually Cappy reached a more chic size. But I had to wait for her to dry--upside-down, stuffed with plastic bags from Target.






After a few days of drying...voila! Cappy was Pret-a-Porter.And thus ends the happy, and at times stressful, tale of Cappy. Hopefully, we will live happily ever after.

PS--I am thinking of maybe adding some embellishments (Buttons, Ribbons, etc.) to my Cappy. Any suggestions?