Notes to self: Wanted a warmer hat option w/o having to use multiple strands held together. Used crochet hook/provisional CO for “ear warmer” part of hat. CO 88 sts, using US 6.

Knitted 20 rows stockinette (pumpkin color), then two rows in purl. Switched to MC (camo), which I’ve had for waaay too long in my stash--hello, when was camo really hot? …and knitted 6 rows in 3x1 rib using a US 7. I wanted the stockinette look BUT with a little stretch. After a few tries, 1x1 was too puffy & open, and then when I’d gotten to the plain stockinette, there was a weird dropoff. (I think I get pickier when I’m tired.) Also tried 2x2 & that looked ridiculous against my two purl rows. And, I worried that it would pull in too much once I joined the provisionally cast on stitches to the main part of the hat.

Began stockinette after the ribbing area, and continued that to top of my head, without decreasing. I’m guessing it was 32 rows of stockinette after the ribbing, or, basically, until I had one yard left in the skein. IF it was a complete skein to begin with!

Why is this taking so long? Because I dropped stitches several times--I went back and ripped out the hat to the join, and re-connected it repeatedly--because I’d get many rows past that and find a few more dropped stitches. After finishing the hat, I found another dropped stitch! Are you kidding me??

Made my first pom pom in decades…and I wish I’d made it a tad larger. But, I’m happy with the hat overall. It wound up being a lot cuter than I expected it would be. :) I’m calling this one a win.

gauge: 4 sts/5.5 rows ITR stockinette w/US7 circs