Thursday Linkspiration

Hat 5 is off the needles.  I decided no pom-pom.  I did the stash dive and found lots of yarn to use.  I have not cast on the next hat though.  While I contemplate my options, lets tour the latest in PyeongChang inspired patterns.

Team USA hats have inspired many patterns!  Having so many hats to choose from helps.  The athletes get opening ceremony hats, closing ceremony hats and then there’s the sport specific gear like the very popular podium hat the Team USA snowboarding ladies have been wearing.  I first spotted it on Jaime Anderson.

Once Chloe Kim wore it though, it became a must have.  Knit Paper Scissors  has obliged with her pattern Olympic Inspiration, a free Ravelry download.

The Ralph Lauren’s official Closing Ceremony hat is sold out.  The traditional colorwork is resonating with everyone, not just the knitters.

It’s spawned several new patterns so you’ve got your choice!  They’re both spot on!

2018 Winter Games Hat from The Wool & Cotton Co.  (aran)  OR 2018 Winter Games Hat from Susan Rainey (worsted)

Then there’s the Canadian snowboarding jackets.

I really love the look of the printed knitting and the idea of marrying time-honored tradition with new fangled technology.   It hadn’t occurred to me to translate the design back into knitting though.

For that, we can thank Kristy Macdonald for her hat design, In The Hunt.  The sweater includes four motifs – bear, orca, raven and sun and moon.  Kristy has included hat options that correspond to each of the motifs.  Definitely keeping this one in my queue!

The Latvian Opening Ceremony hat inspired knitters instantly.

The pattern, from Rebecca A., Latvian Brain 2018 Hat, appeared quickly after the ceremony.  Several knitters have started it but no progress photos…yet!

And then there’s knitting heavy hitters, Dale of Norway.  They were so prepared, their patterns have actually been available since last August.  They’re perfect.  They’ve  kept tradition as the focal point, but still managed a fresh, modern feel.

AND, not to be outdone, it includes men’s, women’s, children’s, hats, sweaters, headbands, cowls, socks and mittens.  345-01 Olympic Passion from Dale Designs.  Once again, Dale of Norway sets the standard and they set it high!

Of course, there’s also a huge catalog of old Olympic patterns to draw from as well.  Searching Ravelry, this one caught my eye, for the crocheters out there.  0-1012 Olympic head bands from Drops Designs.  So cute!

Here’s a Ravelry Search for ‘Olympic’ patterns.  It’s a fun scroll down memory lane!

As I Where’s Waldo my way through the Olympics, I’m drawing more inspiration from the crowd.  After seeing a Colorado hat, I started thinking about California hats.  A friend tipped me to this pattern, Oso Plaid Beanie, from EvelynandPeter on Etsy.  The California official state animal is the grizzly bear.

This is the perfect California hat. I love it!  The only hold up…I’ve never attempted crochet colorwork.  I don’t think I’m going to start this week but, I could convert it to knitting.  It’s going to take some work though.  Single crochet stitches, like those used here, are square.  Knit stitches are not square.  My bear will look squashed if I use the chart, as is.  I need to get out the pencil and the knitters graph paper for this one.

The Olympics has really cemented my desire to knit unique hats that stand out.  If you can buy it, I don’t want to make it.  It’s one thing to knit 13 hats during the course of the Olympics.  I could bang out 13 plain beanies in my sleep.  I want more than that though.  I want works of art.  Quality over quantity.

Come back tomorrow!  I’m bound to put my money where my mouth is…eventually!

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