Parom

I have a confession: Speaking french makes me feel pretentious.

Now, to be clear, I don’t know the french language.  What I am talking about is saying simple words like “Bonjour” and “Merci” or even worse, “Merci Beaucoup.”  It might be blamed in part to the fact that my French accent sounds like I just arrived from the opening scene of Disney’s Beauty and the Beast.  But I am wondering if it is something more.

Lately I have been obsessed with all things (hats) slouchy.  I love the idea of a beret–much in the same way I love the idea of speaking perfect french–but I have always had this inner restraint against the idea of me wearing said beret.  I believe I always felt I couldn’t pull it off.  That I would look, how you say?…pretentious.

Where does this come from?  Maybe I had a French classmate (probably named Pepe) as a child who bested me at everything.  Or perhaps I am secretly adopted and am haunted by my French birth parents who just knew I would never be elegant enough for life in Paris.

Whatever it is, here is proof that I am growing up:

This is Parom.  A slouchy (even though in this picture you can’t tell) beret-esqe hat designed by the very talented Jared of Brooklyntweed.  I finished this a few weeks ago.  It was a very quick knit and one I highly recommend.  I had this yarn in my stash, purchased at Estes Park Wool Market a couple years ago and I love love the color.

Here is a side view:

And the back:

My family members wanted to get in on the Parom fun (or I forced them to get in on the fun-whatever):

Ellie and Parom

Emma and Parom

Kara and Parom

I am very pleased with this hat and as you can see above, it can be worn in many different ways and looks great on everyone.  One concern…I have not yet blocked the hat and to be honest I am a little nervous to do so.  I quite like the size of it just as it is and am not sure how much more slouch I want and worry about it growing when I wet it.  So washing it for the first time will be an adventure and a risk.

Now the stats…

Pattern: Parom

Source: Brooklyntweed

Yarn: Brooks Farm Acero (a fraction of 1 skein)

Needles: US 6 and 8 circulars

Mods: Used slightly thinner yarn but used the suggested needle size and crossed my fingers that it would work.

Notes: I stopped knitting at a little over 6 inches before the decreases (the pattern tells that you can knit a little more in order to get more slouch.)

So in conclusion, while I still struggle with eek-ing out a more confident “Bonjour,” at least I now have my beret right?

Take that Pepe.