I usually knit tighter than gauge. But if I adjust my needle size to get gauge with Cascade 220 Superwash, the project blocks out to something the size of a tent. I don’t have a lot of time to screw around with swatching, blocking, reswatching, etc., so I’m going to knit a medium with the recommended needles, block it, and see where I stand. If it’s too small for a sailor, I’ll keep it. (I love this color, anyway.) I’m planning to make several of these hats. I’ve started doing this after a blogpost from Wendyknits. There’s a whole Ravelry group for this.

This year, hats knitted in washable wool are due to the organizers by 7 November 2011.

Casting on 104 stitches. Knitting a straight 2x2 rib all the way. I’ll work the number of rows the pattern advises (rather than the depth in inches) since my gauge after blocking is so completely unrelated to my gauge before blocking.

9 October 2011: Knitted 58 rounds (rather than 64); unblocked length is 9-7/8 inches. Starting decreases.

16 October 2011: Blocked hat is actually quite large. Cascade 220 does that to me. :( But it’s wearable and I’ll ship it out on Monday.

Thanks, Thomas, for the loan of your head.

Finished hats on display here.

Note to Self: Size 6 needles next time I make one from Cascade 220. And maybe even knit the smallest size. (But stick to size 7 needles for non-Cascade yarn?)