Marty's Knit Fedora

Well, it's happened again. For the third time this season.

I've had the need for a basic hat, one that I could wear daily when one of my more elaborate or wildly-colored hats would just be too much.

I bought 2 skeins of Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran in black, and knit up a basic watchcap with 2 strands held together on size 10 1/2 needles. Just what I wanted - basic black, no adornment, ready to go with anything from a black leather jacket to a grey tweed dress coat.

I wore it once. Stopped by the local hangout, ran into a friend, and he liked it so much I had to let him have it. Hope you're enjoying it, Carl.

Repeated the exercise - bought the same yarn, altered the pattern a bit, but made a basic black watchcap pretty much like the first. The big difference was the hemmed edge. I have always used the K2P2 rib for the edge of a hat, but after listening to the Cast-On podcast by Brenda Dayne, I have since switched to the hemmed edge. [You'll have to listen to her podcast for specific instructions, but it will be well worth it as you become addicted to the soothing tones of her voice, her way with words, and the fantastic pod-safe music she plays. She's incredible.]

At least I wore that one TWICE. Went by train to my sister's in Connecticut, let my neice try it on, and she liked it so much I had to let her have it. Hope you're enjoying it, Cheryl.

Sick of making black watchcaps, I changed to blue. Running out of money for all that Cashmerino, I grabbed some leftover skeins of Lion Brand Wool-Ease in denim and navy. I knit up another basic hemmed-edge watchcap, this time mostly denim, with two navy stripes.

This one, I only wore once. Met up with a friend, got compliments on the hat, let him try it on, and it looked so good I had to let him have it. He did do a saucy turn-up in the back, no turn-up in the front type thing with it, and the hat really did work better on him than me. Hope you're enjoying it, Marty. You're very dashing!

So now I'm not sure what to do. Try yet again to make a watchcap I might be able to actually wear? Give up, knowing that Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow yesterday, leaving a mere 6 weeks left of winter? Or go back to the black Cashmerino now that I've done something else and wouldn't be as bored with it?

I'll keep you posted.