craftgrrl | a problem (with gauge)? (Reply)

I had an entire ball of leftover yarn from making a scarf for someone and decided to make a hat for the friend that lent me supplies for the scarf as a thank-you/christmas gift. unfortunately i forgot to check the needle size when i found the pattern and i used size 8 needles instead of size 7 (hoping that pulling tightly on the yarn would cover for it). hence, the finished hat is now GINORMOUS. i.e. it comes down over my eyes almost to the middle of my nose bridge. my friend is taller than me, but i doubt her head is that much bigger than mine... i can roll up the brim, but the crown is still too large.

is this a sad case in which i should just rip the yarn out and start a different project? or can i shrink it in the washer? (the yarn is 100% acrylic with a couple of cotten blend stripes in it).

:( i spent two days on the hat!