12/24/10: The alpaca knits to gauge specified on size sevens. On vacation without many needles, I knit the 1” ribbing on size six dpns (bamboo) then switched the size seven circulars (steel, 16”) with the first color change, as specified.

12/25/10: With the ribbing and first few rows, I was a little worried that the alpaca would be scratchy around the face. As I’ve worked with it the yarn has softened beautifully; I’m no longer anxious. I’ve also been a little worried about size; the hat looks small on the needles right now. I’m trying to remember that I have no frame of reference for how large or small it should look.

12/31/10: I bound off and blocked the hat twenty minutes ago; it’s drying on the hearth before the fireplace.

(A few hours later…) Dad loves it! My goal was a hat large enough to pull down over his ears, but smooth and light enough to wear under his helmet when directing traffic at a fire scene. (He’s Lieutenant of the Fire Police in our town -- at an accident or blaze, he’ll spend six to eight hours at a time out in the cold keeping everyone calm and answering questions.) The soft wool will keep him warm without making his head sweat, and while it’s a bit large that’s better than being too small. The hat’s a hit!