Say Hello to the Nydia Hat đź’›
Hello and happy Friday, my friend!
From the subject of this post, you've probably already guessed what it’s about: the Nydia Hat pattern is available now! It's almost hard to believe I am writing those words! You see, this pattern—despite being small and straightforward—is one that almost got away.
Its story starts back in the spring of 2021, only a few days after I finished knitting the Nydia pullover. I had one skein left of the beautiful yarn I used for that pattern and couldn't help but imagine a hat using the same textured stitch and lateral braid detail. I excitedly cast on, anticipating a hat that would be done by the end of the weekend.
Or so I thought . . .
It wasn't long before I did what every knitter does: I cast on another project—a sweater!—and set the hat aside. Days became weeks, weeks became months, and my hat WIP became a UFO, unfinished and slightly forgotten while I continued to knit other, ironically, larger projects through the end of the year.
I came across my nearly finished hat in early 2022, while looking for a small project to knit in the waiting room during one of my mom's MRIs, which eventually led to her multiple sclerosis diagnosis. Not surprisingly, that setting is not conducive to creativity and the crown shaping did not work out the way I would have liked, so the unfinished hat once again got tucked into its project bag, and another year passed me by.
When the Nydia Cardigan test knit was winding down at the beginning of February 2023, a few testers asked about a matching hat, calling back to mind my initial excitement over the idea. Plus, a hat sounded like the perfect palate cleanser. Unable to find the original hat I started a couple years ago but with the basic details still in mind, I immediately cast on the first of what ended up being seven (completed) hats. The crown shaping came to me more easily that time around. So easily, actually, that I finished the hat in just a day!
Then I cast on another... and another... and just kept going, at first testing different DK weight yarns and stitch pattern placements and then fine-tuning the details. Each hat absolutely flew off the needles! I decided to offer two views in the same pattern and grade it in sizes to fit the whole family.
A wonderful, large group of knitters generously offered their time to test knit the pattern and, over the two-week time frame, several testers ended up making more than one hat. I asked on Instagram when I should release the pattern—right after the test knit or closer to fall?—and the resounding response was to release it as soon as the test knit ended in late April. And I planned to, but then life decided to throw a few curveballs.
At first, my husband and I found ourselves busier than usual in our day jobs and couldn't carve out the time to take the final pattern photos. Then the weather and my hair (so much frizz!!) did not cooperate. Before I knew it, the day came for us to leave on our first vacation in over three years to celebrate our 16th wedding anniversary. We brought the things we needed to take photos at our rental house property, but after trying some photos and not loving them, we decided to just relax and enjoy the rest of our time away; we could do them when we got back home. We tried a few days after our return, but once again we were not 100% happy with the photos. And then we lost my husband's dear 93-year-old grandma who we were very close with, so pictures became the last thing on our list while we spent time with family.
The hats waited patiently, unfazed in a pretty little stack while my anxiety and embarrassment over not getting the pattern out by the time I had promised and essentially going radio silent on Instagram grew.
But then it happened!
A beautiful, uneventful day, free of the cares from the previous month. And we finally got pictures we loved. I nearly cried when I saw this one—especially in light of the previous failed attempts to take pictures for this pattern.
In retrospect, this is probably the moment where the feelings of relief and realization that everything was finally coming together hit me.
This pattern is one that almost never was but also one I knew I needed to bring to fruition, and I'm so proud of where it ended up. It's easy yet engaging, meditative yet rhythmic, and it will bring your hands and creative heart so much joy. It's written for adventurous beginners and seasoned knitters alike, holding your hand along the way if you need it to but also giving you the keys to embark on your own journey. I guarantee you'll love making it and that you'll wear or gift it proudly—you may even learn a new technique or two.
Pattern Details
Six sizes, ranging from Child Small through Adult Large
Two views, A or B, with differing amounts of texture
DK weight yarn, 72–179 yards (66–164 meters)
Available on Ravelry, Etsy, or here on my website
If you cast on and share pictures on Instagram, please use the hashtag #nydiahat—I'd love to see yours! Also, I'm here and happy to answer any questions you may have about the pattern, so feel free to reach out.
With warmth and gratitude,
Vanessa