The Mad Hatter

I cannot wear hats. Well, I can....but it's very hard for me to find a style and size that look good. I have an odd-shaped head. I'm not sure of the particulars, but getting hats to fit me front, back and sides is a challenge that I'm not sure is worth the frustration.

But that doesn't stop me from knitting them! (and they're not for me....such a bonus). I am on a crazy hat-knitting tear and am just churning them out. I love knitting hats for oh so many reasons:

1) they are fast (usually 3-4 hours). I have self-prescribed ADD. I am an instant gratification kinda gal.

2) they are easy. I cast on my circulars and just go. I love how I get a stockinette stitch by only knitting. I am not a huge fan of purling....it's too slow. See #1 above. I have done so many hats that I have many of my patterns memorized (a miracle since my memory sucks). If I finish one hat, I can easily get started on the next without having patterns or books on me.

3) they are portable. Because they are compact, I can throw a WIP in my purse and have it for long lines, heavy traffic, waiting rooms, etc. This helps immensely with my extreme lack of patience.....though sometimes I do get annoyed when things move quickly and I have to put my knitting down (I'm just never happy, am I?)

No, I am not driving! Good lord, I'm dangerous enough
at it as it is....

4) I can experiment. I love trying new patterns and seeing if they translate well to hats. Some, like the basketweave below, I think look really good. Others, like a dropstitch hat I tried, are horrid (but, because it only took about 2 hours, I didn't feel bad having to frog it in the end).

I would wear this if I could wear hats!

I have been using Caron's Simply Soft recently because it's affordable, comes in every color known to man and is...well....soft! I usually get a little over 3 hats out of a skein....so it comes to about $1 a hat. You can't beat the price! And my "clients" need their hats as soft as possible....so it's a win-win. :)

Anyway, it keeps me busy through the "dry" hot weather months when you're not really thinking so much about sweaters and scarves. Though occasionally the hats take a back seat when yet another friend announces that a baby is on the way (I have stopped drinking the water....I think it might be contagious). But I will always come back to the hat. It is my friend and loves me just as I am. You can't ask for more than that!

HATS!!!