Knitting Problem Solved: Is your hat too big? Turn it into a cowl!

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This is a quick post to share a creative solution to a common knitting problem: that problem that occurs when you don’t bother to knit a gauge swatch ‘cuz it’s just a hat but then half-way through the knitting you realize the hat is huge… ever been there? Normally in this situation you have no choice but to frog the hat, but this time I came up with a clever solution: I turned it into a cowl!

OK, to be fair, I didn’t come up with the hat-turned-cowl idea 100% on my own…. someone in my knitting group on facebook tossed it out as an option. Gotta love the knitting community: we always have each others’ backs!

This cowl started out as a Sidewinder Beanie and it’s a story of yarn substitution gone wrong… (another common knitting problem!) The pattern comes in two versions: one for bulky yarn and one for super bulky. So, I tried to knit the bulky version with super bulky yarn.  This wasn’t an accident… I did it intentionally… though I can no longer recall what my reasoning was.  I used Mighty Stitch Super Bulky yarn and size 10 needles which made it super tight and windproof! (Oh yeah! Maybe that was my reasoning?)

yarn details

Knit Picks Mighty Stitch Super Bulky in Ash
Super Bulky Weight
80% Acrylic 20% Superwash Wool
Machine Wash, Tumble Dry Low
100 g/ 44 yd ball
Purchased in July 2022

project details

pattern: “Sidewinder Beanie” by Aspen Leaf Knits (Buy on Etsy or via Ravelry)
size knit: Bulky version
needles: US size 10 (6.0 mm), wood interchangeable circulars (these ones are nice and pointy and the yarn doesn’t slip!)
yarn used: 104 yards (237 grams) – about 2.4 balls
duration: October 8 – December 30, 2022