January 14, 2003.

One hat, three ways!

Loose and casual,

tied up and out of the way, or

under the chin for maximum coziness.

I made this hat using the pattern in Melanie Falick's Knitting for Baby. The only change I made to the pattern was that rather than binding off the ear flaps (which you make first), I kept the stitches live on a needle and knit across them when I was casting on for the hat itself. That way there's no seam, so more comfortable for Henry, and it looks better when you tie the flaps up. It took a bit of figuring, since the pattern calls for the flaps to be sewn on a little toward the back in order to leave more room for baby's face. But I actually enjoy knitting math.

I made this in some extra Lion Brand Wool-Ease I had, and it was one of those great stash yarn uses where I had about 7 inches of yarn leftover when I finished the hat.