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This fall I happily chose yarns and patterns for my loved ones for their traditional winter hat. I lovingly knitted and crocheted each stitch hoping that the recipient would treasure the end result. One was a complete hit (not off the head for two weeks until it was hatknapped, one was deemed too itchy (How can anyone think Kidsilk Haze is itchy?) and the third looks sassy when the 8-year-old remembers to wear it.

So… the week after Christmas, and after my girls told me I looked like an old lady in my current handknitted (albeit by a Nepalese) hat, I began the search for “the perfect hat”. That’s right, an actual knitted item made by me for me.

A friend suggested that because I have a bit of a pin head I should try to make a square-topped topper. She suggested a pattern written by Bozeman’s very own Linda Perrman, Baby Bobbles in an older edition of Crochet Today. I followed Betsey’s lead with Blue Sky Sport Weight Alpaca and started the pattern. My first crochet bobbles and I was getting somewhere…until it seemed to be a few rounds too small. My hat would fit a baby, imagine that!?! I doubled the yarn, changed to a bigger hook and bobbled away! Finished it and plopped it on my head. Hmmm, needs something, not great, too harsh?

I dug through my UFOs and found a Weezie Wear crocheted openwork beanie that I had started last spring. Would it be the one? It had some qualities going for it: almost finished, the yarn already in my stash and the pattern and even the hook were stored in the same abandoned project bag leaning against the stash baskets. I only liked some of the yarn but LOVED the tiniest bit of leftover single ply from a Swallowtail Shawl. Would it all come together in a cohesive whole and at the same time, highlight the silk and wool? Finished and it’s okay but needs some embellishments.

Then, I was watching “The Holiday” (romantic Christmas comedy with Cameron Diaz and Kate Winslet) and was captivated by the knitted* worn by the Diaz character in England. In a rocking-out scene she is seen wearing a lavender hat. Now I wanted That hat. Off to Stix, in search of same-tone fuzzy and smooth. Voila! lavender Tahki Jolie (70% French angora 30% merino wool) and matching Rowan Silk/Wool dk. (Not to mention, matching pairs of pink, white, orchid, light blue and burnt orange, potentially 6 hats!) And the final hat of the week was created. It is a tad girly-er than I like to be but is pretty close to perfect without needing anything “extra.” Mission accomplished!