Another Orange Hat

A quick photosession and a description of the hat I made for my husband at the end of this winter season. It is a simple, but very comfy and warm double hat, made out of Italian bobbin merino, super soft, but durable. I was a big fan of this yarn and I made four sweaters and a scarf out of it a few years ago, alas it is no longer available in the shop.

Description of the hat:

Cast on 136 sts with provisional cast on. Close to work in the round. Knit rib 1x1 for 45 rounds. Work together the first (provisional) and the last round, knitting the respective stitches together, thus closing the double hem. Continue knitting plain stockinette stitch in the round for 40 rounds. 

Then, on round 41 divide the 136 stitches in 8 segments, 17 sts in each segment. Knit the first two stitches of each segment together every second round for 20 rounds (= 10 decreases) and then every round for 4 rounds (= 4 decreases). Thus 14 sts are decreased in each segment, 3 stitches remain, a total of 24 sts for all 8 segments. Cut the yarn and close the last 24 stitches.

Pick up 136 sts from the end of the brim on the inside of the hat and knit the second inside layer of the hat the same as the outside layer. When finishing the crown stitches of the inside layer, stitch together the top of the inside and the outside crowns. 

Add a small label to the brim (optional). The hat is fully reversible and seamless.

 

Pattern: Another Orange Hat (personal pattern)

Yarn: Zegna Baruffa Cashwool, 100% merino, 90 g, 320m/100g

Needle: 3.75 mm

Time to knit: two weeks

Orange Marmalade Cake

Several years ago we found an orange marmalade brand in our local Lidl, that was very aromatic and excellent for putting into cakes and sweets. I had a favourite cake recipe I used to bake then with this jam. I don't remember it and whether it was my improvisation or I had read it somewhere, but I remember making this type of cake several times and it was a big success with family and friends.

And then, as it often happens with some recipes, I forgot about it. Recently husband brought home a jar of the same orange marmalade with a request for some orange cake. I looked at some recipes on the Internet, none grabbed me, so I decided to try something on my own, having been baking fruit cakes for many, many years now. I am really pleased with this latest one and this time I am putting it down to have it at hand when needed.

Ingredients:

• 3 eggs
• 150 g sugar
• 200 g yogurt
• 60 g vegetable oil
• 220 g flour
• 10 g baking powder
• 180 g orange marmalade
• 50 g sugared lemon peel
• 50 g walnuts
• 30 g dry kumquats
  

Beat the eggs with the sugar. Add the yogurt, oil and flour with baking powder. Mix into a batter. Add the marmalade, nuts and dried fruit. Pour into a baking form and bake for about 30 min in a preheated oven at 180C. The cake is moist, sweet and very, very aromatic. Enjoy with your coffee or tea.