Buyer's...Something

I need your advice on:

Indulgent Rikke

Pattern: Rikke Hat by Sarah Young
Yarn: Manos del Uruguay Silk Blend
Needles: US 4 and 7
Project Page


I think I've mentioned that I work at a yarn shop. Well, a few weeks ago, while working my usual Thursday night, I noticed some bright, shiny Manos staring at me from the display island. There was only one skein in this super wonderful colorway and only 150 yards in the skein, so I fondled it, but put it back. I talked to my friends about it Friday, who urged me to get it (we are always so accommodating of one another's addictions :) ). I happened to be working the following Monday. It was still there. So I bought it. And looked frantically for patterns. Actually, that probably happened before I bought it, but it happened. I've loved Rikke since before it was released and I saw one project (ignoring the other two to the contrary) that led me to believe I could get a nice slouchy hat with few to no modifications. Nope. Close. But nope.

Don't get me wrong! I really love the finished result! I could just love it more! I have just two problems with it: my decreasing modifications left the crown much more puckered than the pattern turns out for others and it's not really that slouchy because I had to shorten it. I have two options: block it or wait and see if more of this colorway comes in.

What do you think I should do? Will the silk content like blocking? Will it stretch unattractively? Do you think I'm just nit-picky? :) I will knit many more in many more wardrobe-fitting colors, so don't tell me to do that! ;) Thanks in advance!

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