Good morning, knitters! Summer has arrived here in the deep south with hot, humid temperatures and strong sun. On top of that, it’s festival season! I’d like to welcome a great new pattern perfect for summer weather both to wear and to knit.
The Fais Do-Do Hat has been nearly a year in the making having discovered this unusual yarn at Miss Bette’s one day last June. It’s called Yashi, the Japanese word for palm tree, which is what it’s made from. I’m telling you, this stuff is incredible! It is smooth and crisp but really rather soft in the hand. It shows no ill effects after being frogged. It doesn’t mind getting wet and you can actually wipe it clean. Perfect for hats and hand bags, right?
Inspired by the Cajun parties of the Deep South, the Fais Do-Do Hat is intended to be a shape-shifting safe-guard against the strong Southern sun. Soft and resilient palm fiber keeps the Fais Do-Do light and cool to wear while its wired brim is sculpted just the way you like. From a funky crumpled cowboy hat to a neat-as-a-pin wide brimmed straw to a demure garden chapeau, the Fais Do-Do is a real wardrobe staple that invites creative decor of all kinds. Try flowers, real or faux, shells, ribbons or jewels. It squishes flat for traveling too!
The Fais Do-Do is worked in the round from the top down beginning with a circular cast on. Spiral crown shaping makes for a pretty top. An eyelet round at the base of the crown allows for a braided cord to adjust the hat’s fit. A double knit tubular bind off creates a casing where thick soft floral wire is inserted and the Kitchener Stitch closes the edge.
By way of a welcome, I’d like to offer the Fais Do-Do Hat pattern at 50% off until the end of the day tomorrow. Just pop in to my Ravelry shop, pop Fais Do-Do into your cart and enter the code OLSTRAWHAT1 at checkout. I hope you’ll enjoy knitting and wearing this adaptable “straw” hat!
Love,
Cheryl
