I made it through most of the winter, actually several winters now, without losing a hat, only to lose both of my hats during the very last days of winter and the first cool days of early spring.

One of them was a hat that I bought years ago, before I was bitten by the knitting bug. I believe I lost it at a state forest, when we pulled over so that I could close a door that had popped open (we had this problem several times this winter, where the sliding door is frozen shut and then suddenly you are driving along and the light flashes on. Nope, not quite shut.).

The second one was one that I had made back in September and have been wearing almost exclusively this winter.

I had planned on posting it once I finished the coordinating scarf and fingerless gloves. But, I was still looking for just the right second color for the scarf. And to date I haven’t gotten past the first glove.

I never did get around to taking “official-finished-knitting-project” pictures. So you are getting random photos, in which I happen to be wearing said hat, cropped, in order to make the hat seem like the subject. Unfortunately, that’s the best that I can offer now. Though I am still holding out hope that it’s somewhere under the car seats or at the library or some other place where I have a chance at getting it back.

The hat pattern is by Amanda at SouleMama and can be found here. I altered it just a smidge by keeping the crown in purl. Though that did seem to change the shaping a bit, so I’m not sure that I would recommend it.

I fell in love with this yarn for the dark, dark splotches of red. It’s Araucania Magallanes color # 314 (I have to say, I greatly prefer for my yarns to have color names rather then numbers. 314 just sounds so blah…) And while it’s a much brighter color then I am usually inclined to wear, I was so struck by it that I just decided to be a bit daring for once, much to the chagrin of my pink hating husband! Actually he couldn’t care less. And he’s been pretty good about not pretending that he doesn’t know me in public.

Now the big question is, what to do with the remaining yarn?? Do I start from scratch and give it another go? Or scrap this project and use it for something else? I have been wondering if a hat, a scarf and gloves might not be just too, too much. It would be quite a bold statement and generally I’m more comfortable with understatement. On the other hand, it is awfully warm and cheerful for those dark winter months. And, ironically, I finally found the perfect second yarn for the scarf, just a couple of day before losing the hat. Hmm…decisions, decisions…I think I’ll have to mull it over for a bit. In the meantime I’m going to be needing another hat or two. I’ve been cold!