A Very Rhinebeck Hat pattern🍩

perfect with a steaming hot....cup of your favorite beverage ☕️ 🍵

Not to brag, but this year, I managed to last a full 24 hours before opening the bag of Halloween candy after buying it. What can I say? I have amazing willpower, and it’s one of the few times of year, I get to flex it 💪🏼

It’s also that time of year when I get puzzled looks when someone asks what the weekend plans are. Sure, I could just tell them that I’m heading to Rhinebeck, NY for a weekend with friends, but it’s a little more fun to say “Going to the New York Sheep and Wool Festival.”

The inevitable “Huh?” give me a chance to say “It’s ComiCon for yarn.” One sassy friend asked me if we cosplay, and if you count wearing all the handknits (or crochet/wovens), I suppose we sort of do ;)

I’m lucky enough to live close enough to drive there easily, so I get to go every year to enjoy all the foliage, friendship, and yarn fumes:

Another yearly Rhinebeck Tradition is a new hat design in Miss Babs’ Yowza yarn to show off their two Rhinebeck Colorways. This year’s design is inspired by the cups of hot cider, coffee, or hot chocolate many of us tote around the fairgrounds while munching on a fresh cider donut.

Meet the Hot Cider Hat with its swirls of steamy color rising up from your mug:

It’s a stranded colorwork design that works equally well with a variegated (above) or speckled colorway (below) as the CC. And you can make it with or without a folded brim…or with or without a pom pom (but you know how I love adding a pom):

(please ignore the bits of cinnamon sugar from the cider donut that landed on the brown hat. Said donut was present for *cough* research purposes only…)

The pattern has charts for both dark and light backgrounds, so if you’ve ever been frustrated by a colorwork chart that has inverted light/dark colors from the ones you’re using, I’ve got you! With this one, you can follow whichever chart is easiest on your eyes and brain.

And if you’re someone with a different row gauge than the pattern, I’ve got you there, too: The pattern includes instructions for alternate crown shaping, so you can add or subtract out several rows as needed.

It’s available on both Ravelry and Payhip shops, and is on sale with a sweet discount for a few days (details on the pattern pages):

Hanging out with a bunch of Yarn People™️ is so rejuvenating and refreshing. Yes, crowds can be a little overwhelming, but if you can spend time with old or new friends who share your love of all things fibrous, it’s easy to find a quiet spot to enjoy a sip of hot cider while admiring all of our handmade goodies.

What a lovely way to enjoy the new season.

Happy knitting,

Mary (aka Lyrical Knits)

P.S. If you’re going to Rhinebeck and we happen to bump into each other, please say Hi! I’m totally OK with hugs if you’re a hugger, and I’d love to admire how fab you look in your handknits!