Another round of hats

Getting back to that backlog of Christmas presents, I made two more hats for the boys in my family, both of which were much appreciated:

Habitat

Pattern: Habitat by Jared Flood (ravelry)

Yarn: Queensland Kathmandu Aran Tweed in color 136 (1.5 skeins)

Needles: US7 and US8 dpns

For: Dave

Mods: None. Made the large size. Also, while my stockinette gauge matched that required by the pattern, the finished hat is gigantic. This is good, because Dave has a similarly gigantic head, but if I were to make one for myself I’d go down a needle size or two. See?

Results: Beautiful. Dave is my cousin, the one with whom I am closest. He moved back to Lansing from Boston this year, and the family is so much closer because of it. He’s been dating my best friend Libby (recipient of the bear hat, among many other things) for quite a while now, and they moved in together just 3 blocks away from us this fall. It is so wonderful to have two of my favorite people so close by. Almost every weekend they host a giant breakfast party for friends and family, because they’re just that cool. I feel pretty pleased with myself for having introduced them to each other. Anyway, even though cousins don’t exchange gifts in my family, as a rule, I decided to make Dave a little something. I heard a rumor he was in need of a warm winter hat, and I also overheard him saying he wanted to buy a fisherman’s sweater. I decided to find a compromise, and made this hat, which is covered in Aran cables. It did the trick: it’s huge enough for his head, and he loves it. When we all went up to my parents’ cabin in Grayling, he wore it nonstop. Success!

Macho, man

Pattern: Turn a Square by Jared Flood (ravelry)

Yarn: Lion Brand Wool in Midnight Blue and Pearl Gray, less than one skein each

Needles: US6 and US7 dpns

For: Jeff again

Mods: None at all

Results: It’s perfect. It’s so boring and simple it couldn’t possibly be any less girly. Jeff likes blue, and the hat fits him nicely. I also used the jogless striping technique for the first time on this little project. It’s not quite as jog-free a I would have hoped, but it’s certainly better than nothing. All in all, another success. Thanks, Jared, for making my Christmas knitting easy and enjoyable.