Annette O'Toole's Cashmere Tam

For some people, February can be the grimmest month of the year -- a month that can find one still reeling from the excesses of pre- mid- and post- holiday fun, a month not really known for it's great weather (at least not in these parts), and a month nearly devoid of meaningful holidays. Valentine's Day and Presidents' Day? They don't really count, do they? Aren't they mainly celebrated by mobile phone companies and car dealerships these days?

Cynical? Moi?

Sure, why not. In the world of -isms, cynicism is (always) the new black! ;)

But seriously, unsolicited thoughtfulness is such a rarity in this day and age that it's even got its own acronym: RAOK. We marvel at random acts of kindness. Startling they may be, but they're also a rejuvenating whiff of fresh air. Like the banker last weekend in Manhattan who overheard me and a friend in his building's lobby asking for directions. Not knowing anything about us other than that we were two people who obviously couldn't locate ourselves on a simple grid system, he offered to take the lift back up to his offcie to consult a guidebook sitting on his shelf. Minutes later, he called down to reception, guidebook in hand, and talked us through directions. It seemed like a small thing, but even that moment's kindness was enough to put a renewed spring in our steps.

My guess is that in the knitting community, you're even likelier to run across warm, helpful people. Those of you whom I've met (and even some I haven't yet) have taught me that!

So you can imagine how touched I was in this glummest of months to come home to a letter from the wonderful Annette O'Toole, who has not only been a familiar face for most of my cinema-going, television-watching life, but who is also a talented and prolific knitter. She is really one of the most thoughtful, gracious people I have met since delving into this industry, and that's really saying something.



Enclosed was an article about her daughter Nell Geisslinger, including a photo of Nell wearing a cashmere tam she knit out of Estelle (100% cashmere) in Rum Point ...



... as well as arms full of great-looking WIPs. Nell, also an actress and a prolific knitter, is proof that talent and creativity obviously run in the family! (The article you can also find online here .)

Annette also kindly included her pattern for the adorable cashmere tam, which you can just see there in the photo. With her permission, it's reproduced here. (Thank you so much, Annette!)

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CASHMERE TAM
(Annette O'Toole, but really Elizabeth Zimmermann)

A.L. de Sauveterre "Estelle" cashmere yarn, 1 skein

Size 6 circular needle and double points

Cast on 90 sts. Join, knit 10 rounds. Purl one round. Knit 10 more rounds. Increase to 135 sts by working K2, M1, around. Work 32 rounds. Dec 2 sts on next row. K17, K2tog around, then one plain round. Alternate these two rounds (dec one stitch every time -- K16, K2tog, then K15, K2tog, etc.) until 49 sts remain. Now dec every round until there are 7 sts. Fasten off.

You can turn up the hem at the purl ridge and baste it down or you can let the edge roll up (which is what I do). I also dampen the tam, stretch it over a dinner plate a la Elizabeth Zimmermann and let it dry overnight into a real tam shape. You can also leave it as is. Many options! Whatever you do, it is the warmest, lightest, doesn't crush your hair, hat ever.

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As soon as I read her pattern, I immediately cast on... then found that I couldn't stop with just one! In less than a week, I'd made three! (in Fiery Sunset, Sawyer, and Highland Heather, respectively)







Annette's cashmere tam is such a quick, easy knit, it makes the perfect last minute gift for someone you want to keep warm -- or yourself!

Nell is currently onstage in Mary's Wedding at the Actors Theatre in Louisville, KY, which I wish I was close enough to see. And all you Smallville fans will know that Annette returns every Thursday on the CW, in her role as Martha Kent.