DIY: Knit Fidra Hat by Gudrun Johnston

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I first saw the Fidra Hat when I visited EweKnit, one of our local yarn shops in Toronto. It was a knit sample just sitting on a table full of yarn, and it caught my eye. I loved the lace design that was simple but striking, and in a bulky weight yarn no less! Often I find that bulky weight hats are very plain and look like a beginner’s knitting project. However, this hat was beautiful and chic!

To knit my Fidra hat, I used a bulky lopi-style yarn that I purchased in Alberta over the summer. It’s a soft and lofty 65% mohair and 35% merino blend from Mountain Sunset Angora that is so, so warm! I tried to be gentle with knitting, since I was scared that the loosely spun yarn would break if I pulled on it too hard.

Tomiko and I visited Alberta with our dad last summer, and while he fished in the rivers, we knit. We visited A Nest of Needles, the yarn shop in Blairmore. Even though it was July, it wasn’t too hot to squish some skeins! The mohair is from angora goats field-raised in Pincher Creek, Alberta. Although I normally love a bit of vegetable matter in my yarn (I get a kick out of pulling out the bits of grass), this had quite a bit. Thankfully the loose twist allowed me to get most of it out quite easily.

The pattern only includes one size, but you can size up or down with your needle choice. Since I always have a loose knitting gauge, I used 4.5 mm needles instead of the listed 5.5 mm and 6.0 mm. The designer, Gudrun Johnston, aka The Shetland Trader, also has several other beautiful patterns available. Fidra is a quick and fun knit combining garter stitch and stockinette textures with some yarn over holes for further decoration (and a little ventilation). The pattern includes both written and chart instructions for ease of use.

I knit the majority of this hat while at an all-day conference. Since all the presenters’ slides are available for download, I didn’t really need to take notes. This let me occupy my hands with knitting while listening to the presentations. Unfortunately I cast off at about 2 pm, which left me with three more hours to fidget!

Once back at home, I made a pompom using the remaining yarn. I snipped it into shape, then steamed it. To steam, I suspended it over a pot of boiling water for a few minutes. The steam really allowed the fibres to plump up and get really fluffy. As with all pompoms, I made this one detachable so I can wash the hat when needed without deflating my pom!