Hat

I've finally picked up the knitting needles again. Other than a shawl/lap warmer that was just straight knitting on HUUUGE needles that Michelle gave me for my birthday long ago and a started-but-never-finished white acrylic Coronet, I've knitted nothing in almost three years. But I've been inspired by some of the PPKers, mostly Nebraska, and by Hannah's adorable knit and crocheted creatures.

Necessity and a desire to make something tangible (other than the proliferate baked goods) finally drove me to knit this:







...a hat made of yarn thin enough to fit under my bike helmet, just warm enough to keep my giant brain from freezing, and earflaps to keep the wind away from my delicate earses. I tested it today and it works beautifully.

I used the Kitty Hat pattern from Stitch n' Bitch by Debbie Stoller (the pattern is available here, but changed the colors (obviously), changed the earflaps a LOT (used same base number of stitches and decreases), and used size 8 circular needles and DPNs, because for some reason I can't find my size 7. Hence the hat is a little big, my attempt at intarsa on the earflaps is a little wonky (and one is JUST bigger than the other), and my ineptitude with decreasing reared its ugly head. (there is ALWAYS one section where I forgot to decrease and have an extra stitch floating around, ALWAYS).

The yarn is a thinnish cotton that I bought in Tübingen, Germany back in 2005 (yay stash decrease!), and has these lovely flecks of brown and tan, giving it a homespun look. I think I bought it to knit myself an iPod cozy and just never got around to it. I still have a little left over though, maybe I'll knit myself a tank cozy with it!

I love it. It looks very Oregon-y. Now all I need is my puffy vest and hiking boots and I'm set.

Since my friend Erica reminds me of all things German-, bike-, and Portland-related, I've decided to call it my Erica Hat.