surprise! the secret pattern i thought i’d get to share with you when the spring knitty went up in march just got released today as a surprise in the winter issue! so exciting!
there are two different versions – with a point, and without (although the no-point version does have a little bit of a peak). each version includes adult and child sizes. (my first time designing a child size hat – i’d love feedback from anyone who knits this for their kid!)
so, i wanted to take you on a kind of journey through my design process that led to vortex. i originally started designing the hat over a year ago! i wanted to submit a design for the spring ’08 knitty, but couldn’t finish it in time. since i didn’t want to submit a wool hat for the summer issue, i used the extra time i had to keep re-designing until i got it just perfect, and submitted it for fall ’08, and now you finally get to see it in winter, which is good because i think of it as a winter design more than any other season.
when i first starting designing, i knew i wanted to make something involving aspects of my spiraling stripes hats, but crazier and more complex. and i knew i wanted to design with noro, because, at the time, i had never even knit with noro, and i had seen so many gorgeous noro project on ravelry that i knew i could do something great with it. i worked out a concept, with a ziggy-zagging brim, swirling colors, and a roomier shape, and ended up with this:
way too big – it could be worn as a beret-style hat, but that wasn’t what i was going for. so i ripped out a section to bring it in, resulting in this:
i liked it, a lot, but… i needed to take it further. i decided a few things: i wanted to stripe between two noro colorways to bring out the design, and i wanted a bigger point! and the brim wasn’t quite right, something needed to change there… so this was my second version:
i loved it! but still, it needed some changes. first of all, if you’re gonna have a hat with a swirling point, why not make it a serious point?! and then the brim… that subtle wave was nice, but i wanted more. and then the method of increasing made for all those bumps; something needed to be done about that. so my next redesign ended up being my final pointed version!
big fat wavy brim, huge point, no more increase bumps, perfect! well, perfect for me… i knew it wouldn’t be for everyone, and i wanted to make more people happy, so i’d need to make a no-point version. my first attempt at that re-design resulted in a major failure!
not only did it still have a little point, but it was waaaay too small! so, that one got frogged, and i managed to get it right on the next try…
that’s the kid’s size next to the adult size. success! so, that was how vortex came to be. i thought this journey might be helpful to any aspiring designers who get frustrated when an idea doesn’t work on the first (or second, or third, or fourth) try! just keep at it!!
here’s another example of the no-point version, knit with my recycled hand-dyed self-striping yarn for a pretty different look:
oh and a question… any interest in the patterns for the older versions? that first non-striping one, and/or the first striping version with the smaller point? i have the patterns all written up, so i was thinking about posting them here in case anyone’s interested, probably after vortex goes into the knitty archives in march. just let me know.
anyway, i hope you like the pattern! now i need to go get all these hats into ravelry!
Lee Does Stuff 
I’ll definitely be making this hat to go along with the awesome scarf you put up! I absolutely loved knitting that thing! I couldn’t stop! I’d be interested in the other patterns too. I especially like the 9th picture from the top. EXCELLENT!
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I’ll definitely be making this hat to go along with the awesome scarf you put up! I absolutely loved knitting that thing! I couldn’t stop! I’d be interested in the other patterns too. I especially like the 9th picture from the top. EXCELLENT!
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WOW! OK, you know I’m not even a knitter, but seeing this process is fascinating and super cool. I love it! And the final version hat (actually, all of them 🙂 is so awesome! Congrats!
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WOW! OK, you know I’m not even a knitter, but seeing this process is fascinating and super cool. I love it! And the final version hat (actually, all of them 🙂 is so awesome! Congrats!
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Really interesting glimpse into how your design evolved, Lee! Thanks for sharing with us.
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Really interesting glimpse into how your design evolved, Lee! Thanks for sharing with us.
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i’d like to try the beretish one too
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i’d like to try the beretish one too
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You are so damn talented ! I’m amazed. Is the pattern difficult (for a beginner, I mean) ? I so would like to make a pointy hat for one of the kids in my family.
And I really like your first non-pouchy-simpler version (partly because I love the colours you used, but also because of the nice gentler wave trim). So if you make the pattern, I may be interested !
I’m still thinking about making your zig-zag scarf, but have had ridiculous difficulties to find nice yarn around here. I hope I’ll find some in the next few weeks…
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You are so damn talented ! I’m amazed. Is the pattern difficult (for a beginner, I mean) ? I so would like to make a pointy hat for one of the kids in my family.
And I really like your first non-pouchy-simpler version (partly because I love the colours you used, but also because of the nice gentler wave trim). So if you make the pattern, I may be interested !
I’m still thinking about making your zig-zag scarf, but have had ridiculous difficulties to find nice yarn around here. I hope I’ll find some in the next few weeks…
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Amazing!
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Amazing!
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Love, Love , Love the hat!!!!!!
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Love, Love , Love the hat!!!!!!
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Oh please publish your other patterns too!! I love your version with the little point….Great job!! Love your blog!!
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Oh please publish your other patterns too!! I love your version with the little point….Great job!! Love your blog!!
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One of the (many) things i like about your final version is the ear coverage, just as a note.
I am joining Lilith to express interest in the first version after the beret-style. Thanks for sharing your process!
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One of the (many) things i like about your final version is the ear coverage, just as a note.
I am joining Lilith to express interest in the first version after the beret-style. Thanks for sharing your process!
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I come here often. All of your creations are unique. I’m loving the pre-vortex hat #1!
6th photo from top…I’d like a try at the pattern.
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I come here often. All of your creations are unique. I’m loving the pre-vortex hat #1!
6th photo from top…I’d like a try at the pattern.
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Wowzers Lee!! I love this hat!! The pointy version is soooo my style – I can’t wait to find some cool self striping yarn to get me started on this. Are you planning on putting together kits for sale with your handspun yarn?
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Wowzers Lee!! I love this hat!! The pointy version is soooo my style – I can’t wait to find some cool self striping yarn to get me started on this. Are you planning on putting together kits for sale with your handspun yarn?
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That is the coolest hat. Congrats on getting it in Knitty! Now I’m REALLY inspired to get to your earlier tutorial about dyeing the sweater sleeve to get striping yarn, and then knit it up into this hat. You have been so inspiring, Lee, with spinning, dyeing, and knitting. I’d like to see a pattern of the smaller point version.
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That is the coolest hat. Congrats on getting it in Knitty! Now I’m REALLY inspired to get to your earlier tutorial about dyeing the sweater sleeve to get striping yarn, and then knit it up into this hat. You have been so inspiring, Lee, with spinning, dyeing, and knitting. I’d like to see a pattern of the smaller point version.
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love it!
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love it!
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OK, another Lee project to do soon… to go with all my short-row hats I made last fall (and wear constantly). And even Kat Bordhi likes it! Beautiful. My 12 yr old wants a new hat now.
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OK, another Lee project to do soon… to go with all my short-row hats I made last fall (and wear constantly). And even Kat Bordhi likes it! Beautiful. My 12 yr old wants a new hat now.
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lee, you rock! and i finally flitted over to see your photos, which i possibly love even more than your knitting. does it ever bother you to be so bleedin’ awesome? and so glad that you’ve come over the pie side of life, as well. life is better over here. see you soon!
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lee, you rock! and i finally flitted over to see your photos, which i possibly love even more than your knitting. does it ever bother you to be so bleedin’ awesome? and so glad that you’ve come over the pie side of life, as well. life is better over here. see you soon!
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i would love a copy for the second version. so cute!
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i would love a copy for the second version. so cute!
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What great hats! And thank you so much for sharing that process. It does help me feel somewhat more “normal”.
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What great hats! And thank you so much for sharing that process. It does help me feel somewhat more “normal”.
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I am in LOVE with this pattern – feels very scandinavian with the point!
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I am in LOVE with this pattern – feels very scandinavian with the point!
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Hello Lee.
I loved the small pointed version ever since I first saw it and would like to ask if you have any plans for the pattern yet? will you publish it, or is it already published and I just haven’t found it yet?
best wishes, Diana
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Hello Lee.
I loved the small pointed version ever since I first saw it and would like to ask if you have any plans for the pattern yet? will you publish it, or is it already published and I just haven’t found it yet?
best wishes, Diana
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YOU ARE SOOO DANG GOOD..AND SOOOO TALENTED TO BOOT!!!!
I have made a few now and they are a HIT!!
The first i made was a challenge..but i persevered..4x pulling it apart
coz i lost count of rows and stitches..etc
the last was perfect :))
the second..by mistake.. i used needles a size smaller following adult
size instructions and ended up as a gift for a 3 year old..
using the same needles and following the childs size instructions..
i ended with a ‘pointy’ for a newborn..
Im not a great knitter but LOVE the art and concepts that come from
working with wool..and the way we can s t r e t c h our imaginations.
Im very interested in the beret-look and the older patterns for sure..
thank you for inspiring me on MY journey Lee and i look forward to
new surprises. Ida :))
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YOU ARE SOOO DANG GOOD..AND SOOOO TALENTED TO BOOT!!!!
I have made a few now and they are a HIT!!
The first i made was a challenge..but i persevered..4x pulling it apart
coz i lost count of rows and stitches..etc
the last was perfect :))
the second..by mistake.. i used needles a size smaller following adult
size instructions and ended up as a gift for a 3 year old..
using the same needles and following the childs size instructions..
i ended with a ‘pointy’ for a newborn..
Im not a great knitter but LOVE the art and concepts that come from
working with wool..and the way we can s t r e t c h our imaginations.
Im very interested in the beret-look and the older patterns for sure..
thank you for inspiring me on MY journey Lee and i look forward to
new surprises. Ida :))
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You are so talented! I really love the smaller pointed one that was your second attempt at a point – any way to get my hands on that pattern? I have visions of my nieces wearing them!
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