This BasicSimpleLazy hat is done! It’s for my sister’s stepson Ben, for whom I’ve never brought a gift in previous trips to the old country. And as his teeny niece has been and will be a recipient of a bounty of my handmade goods, I felt he shouldn’t be left out this time.

Sally the styrofoam head above is, of course, smaller than a real head (why do they do that) so it doesn’t fill out the hat in a flattering way, so ignore the bumpy crown which will, I’m sure, sit fine once on a real head. (I just pulled it down further over Sally’s eyes and the crown looks lovely now!)

I followed the pattern…mostly: DK yarn (Deramores Studio DK), US5 needles (3.75mm?), knitted to 5″ before shaping the crown, did the decreases as described. The only change was a cast on of 120 instead of 108, and my touch of colour was a bit more than a plain stripe. Circumference is 20″, depth 8″.

The other WIP that I whipped today is the second Agnes Lace Cowl this week, this time in Loops & Threads Facets, colour Ruby. It looks similar to the last one, though that was more reddy-purply and this one is more pinky-greeny.

It’s so hard to get the colours to look right. The sun was shining in my deck door and I picked a shady spot nearby so the photo wasn’t too dark, but too much light washes things out. I used an 8mm hook and about 120 grams of this yarn (a ball plus part of a second) to get a cowl that measures about 10″ wide and 24″ around.

Only two weeks until my holiday, when I get to see my mum, my sister and my new great-niece. Can’t wait!