Hats for People with Big Heads

Some people have bigger heads than others.  No, I don't mean swelled heads as in filled with one's own importance.  I mean physically bigger.  As in hats are generally, and especially for women, created in a 'one size fits all' design.

Somehow the producers of hats think that even if our bodies may be created in many different sizes, our heads are all one size.  Oh, hats for men may be created in different sizes, that is is you want to purchase an expensive cowboy hat, or a fedora, or other hat, but what if you can't afford those hats, or what if you are female?

Oh, I know that most of us don't wear hats anymore unless its winter and we want a ski hat or something warm and they are stretchy right?  One size truly can fit all, right?  Wrong.  The knit hats you find in Walmart and even those you may pay a lot for at the mall or in the boutique or on-line are generally made, with few exceptions, in one size an for a head that ranges from 21 to 22 inches in size. If I, or other members in my family of larger than average heads (23, 24 and larger in size) attempt to wear them they do stretch out to pull down over our outsized domes but then, a couple of minutes later, pop up to sit like little comedy hats or pop off our heads entirely.

This is frustrating, as is the problem when we find adorable hats of other structure that we might want to purchase and wear but that are only available in one size fits all.

So we attempt to knit them ourselves, or get someone to knit them for us.  Ahah!  Most knitting and crochet patters are also sized for the "normal" head.  Purchase the yarn, knit the hat and lo, off it pops.

As an experienced knitter and crocheter I can often modify the pattern to fit.  But what about the rest of the world?  Knitting hats is one of the simple projects, often suggested for new knitters.  New knitters do not usually have the skill to modify a pattern  Nor do many experienced knitters.

Relax, big heads of the world and those who wish to provide warm coverings for same.  I'm going to attempt to provide a few simple patterns designed with the larger headed person in mind.  Those of you who create wearable art (and those of you who might like to ) can use this information and create wearable art for big heads. Yes!

Here's the first one.

 Here's the first attempt at a pattern.  Experienced knitters go ahead, and please send me comments on how I can make the pattern better for all knitters.  (I'm not a pattern writer, but I am going to have to learn by doing.) A crochet version will follow (in an latter post) as will a downloadable pdf pattern to my Ravelry site (I'm whizard on Ravelry.) www.ravelry.com.

Hat # 1 for Big Heads

Yarn:  Brown Sheep worsted.  1 skein and a little bit of another if you choose to make a stripe.

Needles:  Size 8 double pointed.  5 needles recommended.

Guage:  20 Stitches and 6 rows to 4 inches

Additional materials:  at least 1/16 yard of flannel fabric in a color to match the main color yarn.

Begin:
Using main color, cast on 84 stitches to  4 needles.  (if you only have 4 needles, CO to 3 needles)
Join, making sure not to twist work.
Work in stockinette stitch for 6 rows.
Work in reverse stockinette stitch for 2 inches.  Changing from stockinette stitch (knit all rows in the round) to reverse stockinette stitch (purl all rows in the round) forms a turning edge, and a small hem.  You will stitch the hem to the inside of the hat at the end.
If you wish a stripe, cut yarn leaving a 3 inch tail and join stripe color. (see note on jogless knitting)
(If you do not wish a stripe continue in main color,)
Work in reverse stockinette stitch for 1 inch.
Cut yarn and rejoin main color.
Work in reverse stockinette stitch until total height of work (whether worked with stripe or without stripe) is 6 inches.
  *Purl 12, purl 2 tog* repeat from * to * around.
A:  Purl around.
B: *purl one less stitch than previous row, purl 2 tog* repeat from * to * around
repeat A and B until the total stitches on all needles is 24 then repeat row B 2 times (total stitches remaining 12)
Cut yarn leaving a 6 inch tail and weave tail through each stitch, pull gently to close hole at top of hat.
To finish, fold the hem created at the beginning of the hat to the inside and stitch to the inside.
Weave in any ends.

Note:  Jog less knitting.  When you add a stripe to a pattern worked in the round the spot where the color changes will produce a jog, a really obvious point at which you changed color and it won't look particularly pretty.  To prevent this, join the new color and knit the first round normally.  When you reach the beginning of the second round, slip the first stitch, then knit the rest of the round.  Knit any following rounds normally.  When blocking, pull slightly at the jog area to even the lines.

Be the Always in the Midst of Never

There is a lot of despair out there. War. Famine. Terrorism.  Sickness. Foreclosure. Failure. Fired. Laid off.  Death. To read the newspaper or listen to the news today is to risk your mental health. Haven't we all wondered what in the world can save the world?

Or maybe you are just having a bad day.

I'm not enough of a pollyanna to believe that good works, kind gestures, great art or a large influx of money can solve any of these problems.  But I do know that every good thing you do, every time you speak and act authentically, every time you create something beautiful and much that you create that may not be beautiful but is real uplifts a soul, if only you're own.  And, when a soul is uplifted it can deal at least with its own troubles and perhaps with the troubles of another.

That is how it starts. One soul reaching out to another.  And that is one of the reasons that I work at creating art, and one of the reasons that I try to do something everyday that might be good for another.

• knit a warm hat, crochet a blanket, create a warm wool vest and give it to a homeless person, or a charity
• work on a piece of art that reflects an inner feeling I am having, or have had.  If working on it I become it, the art and the feeling, perhaps someday it can do the same for others, make the connection, show them they are not alone
• express more positive remarks than negative.  even if it is my job to guide, correct or help I can do it in a positive way or at least offset the negative with multiple positive statements
• smile
• greet people I pass while walking.  how many people do I see each day?  how wonderful it is when they greet me.  even a 'good morning' or 'good evening' or 'cold isn't it' makes that connection.  oh there may be places where this may not be a good idea, but really, aren't there a lot of places all of us are where a simple greeting costs us nothing and lightens someone's else's day?
• answer that question 'how are you?' with a big smile and a positive message when I can and a simple neutral answer when I can't.  Look right at that person and ask them how they are and respond authentically to it.  (how often is this greeting just so expected that we don't listen to the person's answer?  )
• wear that wearable art, especially when its bright colors.  A lot of people have told me that seeing someone in wearable art, especially in bright colors gives them joy.  there is so much blandness out there.
• complement people.  see a great hat, coat, sweater, outfit.  maybe they made it.  okay, so maybe its not art.  what does it matter?  the art may be in the wearing, the assembly with other clothing, the 'where' they are wearing it, the viewing, the people they are with.  art really is all around us and maybe part of our job is to help other people to see it.
• research, and the contribute to a charity that does good things for people.  put some money in the Salvation Army bucket.  Purchase a water buffalo for a family. 
• support local businesses, especially the small, individually owned.  drink coffee at the independent coffee shop.  buy a craft, a painting, a vegetable from your neighbors.

Some of these things may seem simple to you, like common sense or just the way you should respond to people.  But they are not, for an introvert like me. Those simple person to person things are hard. Hard to remember, hard to do.

But everyone can make art, and everyone can be a little nicely social.  Who knows, your simple gesture may be the thing that lifts another soul, everyone can be the always in the midst of never,