Not to be Negative: but Negative EASE rocks.

Chicago Botanic Gardens had a pumpkin event last week.

A friend sent me this photo from the event. 

******

I'm here to tell you I'm almost finished with my second Seventh hat. 

Love the pattern, the Zara yarn and the negative ease.

I really didn't understand the negative ease idea until this hat. 

I'd explain it as a way to get a perfect fit on a warm hat that won't fall off.

Negative ease is only a knit term,  or so I've read.

You can't obtain negative ease with fabric and sewing.

It is a way of assuring things will be hugging your body.

Be it a sweater that shows your curves, or a hat that really really works.  

So if the hat is knitted with a stretchy yarn, like Zara, it is created with fewer stitches in the pattern than you would normally cast on. 

This is how the negative ease is achieved. 

In other words, it won't work with cotton or a yarn that does not have any spring in it. 

Don't even try it friends. 

Busty friends who knit sweaters that applaud those curves, are using negative ease.  

If you want drape, use more stitches and there will be no cling. 

I'm not creating any patterns, but understanding this concept is a AHA for me. !   I'll look for more hat patterns with negative ease.

Let's be positive about Negative!