cupola & annecy – again!

I’ve ushered in 2020 by reknitting two of my own designs!  Hats, to me, are just about the perfect project: portable, quick, a canvas for infinite creativity, and something that everybody needs.

First up: my Annecy Beret.

Originally published 8 years ago in collaboration with the Independent Designers’ Program at Knit Picks, it was time for this design to be remade in a current yarn.  I’ve worked with KP’s City Tweed DK-weight yarn before for my Stomping Grounds sweater, but never its heavier aran-weight sibling.  And just like the DK-weight, this yarn is wonderful to work with: a soft hand while knitting, colorways that have just the right amount of tweed, and a lovely, drapey fabric after blocking that makes it ideal for so many projects.

(I think this photo shows the squishiness and drape of the beret best.  And it’s also the cover shot for my band’s next album HA!  Kidding.)

I was lucky enough to work with one of the newest colors to the line, “Snowbank,” which is a pure white tweed.  It’s elegant, both classic and chic, and pairs nicely with just about any neutral.  I think you’ll really love this update to Annecy, which you can find at Knit Picks here, on Ravelry here, and on my website here.

Next up: my Cupola hat.

The original hat, which I featured in only my last post here at DCD, was worked in the most wonderful gray tweed yarn, Valley Yarns Taconic, a blend of Merino wool and cashmere.  That hat lives happily with the folks at WEBS now, so I wanted to remake the hat for myself.

Recently, I’ve been focused on significantly reducing my yarn “stash,” donating much of it to a local handiwork group.  The yarn I have kept is (a) still being produced by its manufacturer (a critical detail for any independent designer); (b) in solid or mostly solid colors that enhance my vision for the stitches/fabric; and (c) frankly, in the words of Marie Kondo, still “sparking joy” for me!

So, as part of my stashdown2020 effort, I found a few remaining skeins of Hudson yarn by Jill Draper Makes Stuff in the most vibrant green, aptly named “Bottle.”  (I had originally used my skeins to make a Rhinecliff hat for Nina when she was only about 4 months old!)

The color and stitch definition of this hat most definitely spark joy!  (And so did this photoshoot.  I love how my rainbow sweater pairs so well with my new hat.)

I am such a fan of this yarn.  Raised, produced, and dyed domestically, this 100% Merino wool produces a highly textured fabric with crisp stitches and great depth.

I love the streamlined flow of this design, as the ribbing transforms into cables and transforms back into ribbing that merges together in the crown.  It’s a design that suits everyone in the family, hence the 3 different sizes in the pattern!  You can find the Cupola hat here at DCD, on Ravelry here, or at WEBS here (where you can create a lovely kit with your own choice of Taconic yarn!)

There’s still lots of knitting time left this Winter, so I hope it’s a productive and creative season for you!

xoxo Danielle