The Marsan Watchcap



Yarn: Patons Classic Merino
Pattern: Redlipstick's Marsan Watchcap Pattern
Needles: 8s
Started: 2/9/2005
Finished: 2/11/2005

I love the way this hat turned out, but I had some serious problems with the pattern. It was a simply quick knit, a last minute Valentine's present, and turned out beautifully (and matched Wavy beautifully. I had to modify the pattern to fit a gargantuan 24" head, but it worked out pretty well.

I hate to rag on other pattern designers, being one myself, but... I had to restart this thing twice because the directions were so unclear. I almost never read a pattern all the way through before I start, so I often get some unpleasant surprises, but this was kind of ridiculous. Therefore, I shall vent.
  1. No Gauge - It's well nigh impossible to determine how well a hat will fit someone if you can't get gauge. Granted, this is a stretchy hat and fits most heads, but really, no gauge? All you had to do is measure across four inches, count stitches and say X stitches = 4" in pattern, unstretched
  2. No Measurement - An adult medium? What is that? 18"? 19"? 20"? It's not easy to adapt for size when you don't know the given length
  3. Pattern Stitch - I had thought I followed the pattern when I got to the turning row only to find out that the pattern is twisted k1p1 rib and not plain k1p1 rib. It's difficult to read and it vexed me.
  4. Modification - In the gauge section, if you want to modifiy the pattern to add in groups of 8. But when you get to the crown decreases, you actually find it should be groups of 18.
Like I said, I really liked the finished project and it's adaptable and stretchy enough to fit many different heads, but I was vexed for quite a while.