Wanting a cosy winter hat with a splash of color, I looked for a chunky yarn that made me happy to look at. Of course, my allergy to wool made it imperative that it have less than 10% wool content in the yarn. Having heard good things about Sirdar Crofter and enjoyed making a baby beanie hat with the DK, I made my choice. Cork Wools and Crafty Alley both carry this yarn!
I started this hat at the top and based the increases on a sock toe pattern. This was made before I tried Erika Knight’s Baby Beanie pattern. Here’s a photo of it nearly finished.
This was my second attempt at knitting a hat and by far my more successful one. Coincidentally, I did not follow any pattern whatsoever with my first attempt, my Mint Chocolate Hat. The Loganberry Crofter hat is cosy even though it does look like it would suit a Conehead. I’d blame the sock-based increases, but it actually doesn’t bother me enough to rip back and change it. I ended up taking the tail of yarn at the hat’s top and pulling a tuck of the top in for a flatter appearance. Overall, I was thrilled with how the Crofter knitted up as a pre-patterned yarn as well as texturally. I have wool allergies and the minimal wool in this yarn doesn’t bother me. Which probably means I will be knitting a lot more things for myself with it.
The key for me is to use it in small doses since the pattern and colors of Loganberry in particular are bright. Again, they sell this yarn at Crafty Alley in Killarney (oh yes, they ship!) and Cork Wools in Cork City Centre.

