Of all my designs so far, this one was, without a doubt, the most satisfying one I have ever completed… even if it took a tad bit longer than the others! I’d been dreaming of creating a hat like this, in a gauge small enough to look store-bought, with a pattern detailed and lovely enough to make me smile even on the darkest days… Well, long story short, I designed and knitted up this little beauty last year, but I’ve enjoyed wearing it so much, for everything from bike rides to skiing on the mountain, that I never got around to publishing it! But, between the cold 2019 temperatures sweeping around the northern US and Valentine’s day next week, it seemed a fitting time to put this one out there. :)

Soft-and-fluffy looking snowflakes (four different types) drift above a subtle border pattern of X’s and O’s - my interpretation of what i always think of as “snowflake kisses”. Those minutes when it first starts to snow, and for a moment you can catch and admire the perfect little flakes falling on your hat and gloves before they fade away into nothing… sigh! Makes me want to put on my coat and run outside like a kid on a snow day again!

This is a slightly oversized, loose-fitting hat (about 21” circumference unstretched) - it isn’t meant to grip the head too tightly. Knit up in two layers of fingering-weight yarn on size 2 needles, it’s what this former Boston girl would call a “midweight” hat rather than a super-thick headwarmer. It’s the perfect weight to move around in - and that’s a good thing, cause with a pattern this cheery, you’ll want to show it off from all angles!

Happy knitting! <3