The Hat Story

One of my very first projects was a hat for O. I used Noro Kureyon, made it up as I went along, and used straights *gasp*. For a first-timer, it was a great hat and it's been used by all 3 boys in the house. Once I became comfortable with circular and double pointed needles, I made hats like a mad woman!! I made DH yet another hat, this time out of Cascade 220, I honestly can't remember the color or whether it had a stripe. It was a good hat. This hat was lost on the train. For several days O checked the lost and found to no avail. He was sad, I was sad, there were tears. I finally caved and said I'd make him yet another hat. He was thrilled. However, this time, he had specs. Yes, he had SPECS for this new hat. He requested that the sides come down over his ears and wanted a skull and crossbones on it. I was shocked for a few moments that he actually asked for special construction and design after losing the first hat but, of course, being the wonderful wife I am, I complied. So, I "designed" this hat that would make my darling husband happy. I new I was going to use 220 in black. I thought I'd use short rows to make it longer around the ears and the neck, but mom informed me I was doing it wrong and fixed it right up. I found a skull and crossbones chart online and used Malabrigo in burgundy to duplicate stitch it on after the hat was complete. I hate intarsia and I hate duplicate stitch. After all was said and done, it looked pretty kick butt. It fit like a glove. I believe I finished this hat around February of 2007. Fast forward to November 2007. I wanted to post a picture of it on the skeleknits group on Ravelry. I asked him for it. He replied with a shocked expression "You don't have it?" Ummmmm, no. He searched for it, again, to no avail. He claims someone stole it out of his front pocket of his backpack on the train. Whaaa?!?!?! Of course, I'm livid and swear up and down that I will never, NEVER, knit him another hat for as long as he shall live. And, for that matter, I will never, NEVER, knit him ANYTHING. Of course, as all this was playing out, what did I have on my needles? Oh, yeah, the Cobblestone. A sweater of all things. A sweater. I told him I would finish the sweater and that's IT.

So, he went to Target with his tail between his legs and bought not one, but two hideously ugly, plain double knit hats. Has he lost those cheap ugly hats? Of course not.

Fast forward to tomorrow. Tomorrow, my dear O will turn 37 (hee hee, he's exactly 3 years and 3 days older than me *giggle*). He said all he wanted was a really cool T-shirt. I tried to find him an awesome Henry Rollins shirt, but couldn't. So, he's getting a "Baby" T-shirt from House of 1000 Corpses fame (he's such a feminist he'll probably never wear it, though) and the movie The Underworld. And, are you ready? Yes, I'm knitting him a hat. The Ganomy Hat by Elizabeth Zimmermann, out of Malabrigo in Buscando Azul. I am so in love with this color and the pattern is fun and soooo easy. So, yes, I'm a glutton for punishment. I don't know if he'll even wear it, or manage to keep it in his possession, but we shall see tomorrow.