I usually knit or crochet a hat or two in the winter. This one is a wool and soy fibre hat in raspberry colour way. The stipes are because of the variegated yarn, which virtually self stripes as it is being constructed. The hat is deep which allows it to be worn two ways, one with a wide turned up brim to keep the cold from blowing through at the ears and the other, a stylish long slouch hat. The pom pom is a little wild, not perfectly round, in keeping with the slouch hat's casual nature. The hat was crocheted on a 5.5mm hook and it took two full balls of yarn including the pom pom. There is only a tiny bit left over which I will keep for repairs should I snag it on something in the future. I enjoyed doing this hat and as usual, it has no pattern, just an idea from my head. I am thinking of doing a similar thing, only a little larger and longer for a baby cocoon for my granddaughter due in April. I would not make it out of wool though because the parents want everything such that it can be thrown in the washer and dryer, and of course, wool can not be.
The next winter project will be to start a felted pair of slippers. When my parents came to Canada with their parents, they brought the art of making wool felted boots, but it has been lost. My mother recalls her father going to do chores in those big felted wool boots. Slippers are made the same way, only of course they do not have the long shaft of a boot. Russian wool felted boots are now the rage with the in the know crowd, replacing Ugg boots from Australia.
I think I will wear my hat to school tomorrow. What do you think of it?