FOlio Fest Day 8: The Hoopla Hat

Read other entries in this series here as they are available.

Pattern name: Hoopla (LoveCrafts link)

Designer: Dianna Walla  

Yarn: stash Heathered Alpaca yarn in white and black, Knit Picks Swish worsted (in black)

My Favorite Thing about This Hat: This hat is one of my few truly slouchy hats (more on that in a second); I still wear it all the time because I have a black and white coat. It’s also a great hat for when I don’t want to smash my hair down too much.

Also this used up the last little bit of some alpaca yarn from one of the first sweaters I ever knit after it had been sitting around in my stash for over a decade.

What I’d Change about This Hat: It’s actually a bit *too* big. This project was a Christmas Eve cast on but I was traveling for Christmas that year, and I forgot in transit that I had decided I’d use larger needles than the pattern called for and knit the M size – so I cast on the L size instead, while also using the larger needles. I do still like it and wear it a lot (it’s a particularly good choice when we’re running errands in the car and aren’t outside for long), but it isn’t the best choice when it’s really windy.

Would I Knit it Again? Yes, but maybe I’ll remember the proper size this time.

This Week’s Charity:

Brave Space Alliance is Chicago’s first black-led, trans-led LGBTQ+ center located on the South Side of Chicago dedicated to creating and providing affirming, culturally competent, resources, programming, and services for LGBTQ+ individuals on the South and West sides of the city. 

BSA’s Jasmine Alexander Housing Building, opening this month, offers a temporary supportive residential program providing temporary housing, a workforce development program, and a financial literacy program, while hosting the BSA’s community pantry and Dignity services.

Through December 31, the BSA is hosting their Dignity 2 Destiny Peer to Peer Fundraiser.  In support of this effort, all donations made through the WLS Makes Stuff donation page through December 31, 2023 will be matched up to $500.