Lupinus Albifrons. Known as just ‘ lupine ‘, it is one of the more populated native wildflowers of Northern California, and in April fills the mountain meadows, between grape vines in the rows, and trail-sides with deep blue & purple variegation. A small woody shrub when mature, however, where grass is mowed annually (as in the vineyard rows here on the mountain) and where seed is planted from the wind, you’ll see it popping up everywhere as young single stemmed flowers . . .
I luckily had just the perfect yarn handy when I became inspired from my walk of last week. I had a bunch of green which I over-dyed from grey wool which perfectly illustrates the ‘silvery’ grey-green leaves of the plant. The rich deep blue and purple played illusive games however with the camera, which wasn’t able to distinguish the two, and both came out as blue tones in most of the photos. But here it is , un chullo, for my brother’s birthday tomorrow!
I absolutely go wild photographing still-life knitteds ~~ its just one of the things I love doing, in every light possible , which enables me to make an assemblage of photos that catches different tones and characteristics of the yarns and knitted shapes . . .
The detail with which I experimented for the first time on this chullo hat, was to add a running crocheted chain just inside the typically chullo-esque double-crocheted edge, to neaten up the edge.
I love to make my chullo hats a bit of a hybrid with gnome hats by decreasing into a point, then finishing with a braid extending off of the top . . .
They blossom into a hat with a lot of character and playful whimsy . . .
The crocheted edges tame the curling tendency of the stockinette stitch. . .
Braid finishes being made on both ear flaps . . .
(the purple really pops in this photo below !)
Un chullo, inspired from the lupine flowers in the fields of Northern California. To be given to my brother tomorrow, and there could be nobody more appreciative than he, who wears them everyday , and who is also a botanical wizard !
NOTE : I have taken notes as I knit this one, so if anybody is interested, I could assemble a pattern of sorts from it.
Details on Ravelry HERE
Well, I’m off to walk the mountain with Emma, but I will leave you with a little slide show of the early morning walk of last weekend, from which this chullo’s lupine photos were taken . . .
Jenjoyce Design 
Gorgeous color combination. Love it. Such a cute design.
Thanks Jen ! Aren’t the lupine flowers just so beautiful now?
It looks so professional! Love ths finishing and the colors are mahvelous.
Thanks so much Morrie. You think professional? I do think this is the best chullo I’ve made to date, and I’ve made many. I was sure to get the botanical name RIGHT… just in case you had your handy botanical encycopedia handy… 😉
That’s really lovely hen! Absolutely get that pattern written up and for sale – you’d be nuts not too! It looks stunning where you live. At least you have sunshine, it was -8 here this morning. I tell you, I’ve had my fingerless gloves on for days. What the heck happened to Spring?!
Oh wow Kelly, thank you so much !!! You are voting *for* pattern, okay… I will do it then !! I’m sorry your spring got shy this year… but I’m glad you have your alpaca mitts to help you stay warm. 🙂 OH, question , do you have similar flowers in Scottish Highlands called “Blue Bonnets” ?
We have Lupins here too. They are gorgeous to look at. At first I thought you meant Bluebells when you were talking about flowers. Bluebells and Snowdrops are lovely little wild flowers that seem to pop up everywhere in the Spring time here.
I”ve heard of the Snowdrops… but do ye nay have ‘blue bonnets’ too?
Those colours together are simply stunning. Green and purple are two of my favourites when mixed together. Love the hat. xo
I realized this after the first two color changes, I LOVE this colorway… but in these exact tones… grey green, marine blue, and plum purple 🙂 . If I make a pattern, will you knit one for Isaac? 🙂
Absolutely!!!!!! xo
I love knitted still lifes, too, and your photographs of your new hat are beautiful. Thanks for sharing images of your recent walk ~ wish I could take that walk one day!
Evelyn, you and I think alike 🙂 Come, take the walk with me ! 🙂
A very fine hat. Of course you should do a pattern.
Nice to see the bees doing their work.
Alright Lizzi… well, I was going to wait and see how well the reaction went, but it seems that I ought to make a pattern with notes I take , just because I need the practice ! One day… a pattern will be automatice !!! I can dream, can’t I ? 🙂 xx
Wow what a visual feast, thank you.
No… thank *you* Kay ! 🙂
Jen – The whole concept of capturing the colour and form of lupine’s and applying them to the design of a hat is nothing short of amazing. This goes way beyond the craft of knitting and enters the realm of fine art. This simple little hat should be exhibited in the S/F Museum of Modern Art. Thank you so much for making me wonder in amazement, J.
Oh wow….wow…wow ! Thanks John !!! I was rather amazed I had the yarn handy which perfectly matched the flowers ! 🙂