And it's hat season!

A new toque, hot (well, snuggly warm) off the needles. This is what I'd call a luxical toque - luxurious but practical. It's a very good yarn but easy care. Mission Falls superwash wool, 1 ball each of "Denim" (#21) and "Natural" (#1). 2x2 rib on 5mm bamboo needles. A pretty quick knit, less than a week in "here and there" stints with a finishing push on tonight.

The stripes are approx. 2" wide and I must say a very special thanks to the gang over at KnitTalk, especially Adele, for helping me preserve the ribbing over the decreases at the top. Adele, your math rocks and I love you for it! Although I admit (and you can see in the picture, the email printout under the hat) that I only went to decrease row 7 and then fudged it because I was running out of yarn. But it's long enough for an ear-warming foldup at the bottom, so it's all good.

I loved this colour, stripe, and stitch combination so much that I splurged and bought another six balls (3 of each) to make a matching scarf. Simple but special, and the blue is a near-perfect match to my fall/early-winter coat, so it'll be getting lots of wear over the next few months (until heavy parka weather hits and I bring my lovely Tosca set back out of storage!). So I will start the scarf tomorrow night. I may not love 2x2 ribbing over 60" as much as I did over 10", but I really want the scarf, so motivation and pure stubbornness will win out!

Now, go knit yourself a hat. You know you want it!

PS, Yumi if you're reading this, your shawl in the laceweight blue Fleece Artist is underway; it's going to be my "travel-in-the-bag" knitting for the next while. :)

PS #2 - Sorry for the sudden change folks, I've reverted to the soothing lighthouse picture now that summer is over. Hot pink just doesn't work for me in cool weather.