Keeping warm

Each year, I try to make it until November 1st before I turn the heat on. With a good stash of knitted accessories, and a stack of blankets all over the house, I'm generally successful.

But not this year. The temperature has dropped dramatically, and the tile floors throughout this place don't do much to make a cozy environment. (Though they are easy to clean, so I count that as a win!). Last night I caved and put the heat on. I'm keeping it low though, so that still means I'm wrapped up in blakents, thinking warm thoughts....

So what better time for Practical Crafts to ask me to test knit a nice cozy winter hat? 

Nice snug ribbing, a must-have for a hat!

As you know, I'm not a huge fan of colourwork. Oh, I love how it looks, but the execution of it... I've gotten better at it, but I'll still opt for lace over colour almost every time. But I saw the hat she was making... maybe it was the colours - I don't know, it just grabbed me. I asked her what pattern is was, only to learn it was one she was just winging. (That's some pretty good winging!)

Look at those even stitches, I might be getting the hang of this!

But she put it all down on paper and asked me to give it a test knit. How could I say no? I'm using up some left over grey MadTosh Heritage from the Eileen Cardigan I knit for Mom. The pink is some Big Cat (non-superwash version) left over from the French Press Slippers I made for my sister-in-law. I was planning to put this in the Christmas box, but the more I'm working on it, the more I'm thinking it might go into my own winter woolies basket.... maybe with some mitts to match....