New Pattern, Old Design: Spider Hat v2.0

The funny thing about this hat is that I really am NOT a fan of spiders. There was one on the bathroom floor the other morning and it very nearly put me off having my shower. I often have to get Norman to deal with the spiders.

But I do enjoy an interesting cable pattern, and it turns out that this interesting cable pattern happens to make a spider...

Way back in the dark ages of 2008 or 2009, I designed a hat that used the Spider motif from Barbara Walker's treasury of charted knitting patterns. (The yellow one.)

It was one of my earlier pattern efforts, so the pattern itself wasn't great, the photos were awful, and I never properly launched it.

After a few nudges from persistent knitters, I thought it was time to relaunch. I updated the chart so it was a bit easier to read, I improved the fit and the decrease, and with the help of some excellent people, got much better photos. And taking my own advice - with the help of my Twitter friends - I've given it a better name... "Genus Araneus".

The two-colour cuff is a nice touch, but entirely optional. Uses less than 200 yds of a DK weight, with a few yards of a CC if you want. Suitable for knitters with experience working in the round, and working cables from charts. The chart is a little bit challenging, but not terrifying.

$5USD download, available from Ravelry, Patternfish, LoveKnitting and Craftsy.

Thanks much to E. and R. and a certain handsome young man for help with the photos.