I posted about this hat (and the fact that I have an in-joke about hats) last week, and stated my intention to accessorise it. My inspiration was the Pierced Fisherman Beanie by CAPS Apparell.
On one hand, I wanted it to look cool and distressed. On the other, I know how easy it is to overdo a thing. So I approached with caution and only made two cuts in the knitting. I unravelled to make holes, tied a short length of fresh yarn on to each loose end, and sewed through the now-empty loops to secure again.
Then I added three piercings. These are keyrings, and it was surprisingly easy to get these on (and off). I threaded a small jump ring onto the keyring, then made as if to remove it again, but just far enough to make a gap I could fit a stand of yarn under. With the keyring, I picked up the strand in the middle of a knit stitch, then two or three more above it as I slid the jump ring round, using it to lead the way and let the yarn pass through. I caught up another stitch or so across the way, then continued to slide the jump ring round and off, leaving a lovely ring through my knitting!
That hardware was a little weighty on the brim – not terrible, but enough to pull forward when wearing. So I threw a quick set of stitches in to the inside of the hat, catching up the inner layer only of the brim to hold it gently in place. Let’s face it, the hat wasn’t reversible any more, anyway!
Finally I made up a skull pendant with a wooden game piece from The Game Knight UK on Etsy. They’re great quality. I don’t play any games that need them but they make great jewellery. I screwed in a tiny screw eye pin, by hand but tightening with pliers at the end. Very satisfying, always makes me feel very handy. Then fed a jump ring through the eye, and through the loop at the end of a black kilt pin, which I pinned on to the hat.
It’s still very much a hand knitted hat – but it wants to be punk, and I think it should get points for trying. Don’t you?
The Crafty Yarnster 