Most of the time when I knit something, it’s because I want to use the yarn. I’ll knit something because I love the pattern, too, but usually I’ll check the stash before I buy yarn for a project. And if I don’t have the yarn the pattern will go on the back burner and usually be forgotten.
But I only occasionally think “hmm, I’d really like a ____ in this colour”.
Lately I’ve experienced accessory cravings. The thought of a matching white scarf and hat in some thick, cosy yarn does it to me. And then I start thinking of a cherry red hat. And long, red silky gloves. And I need a black beanie.
I have too many hats, scarves and gloves already, I tell myself. So why are half of them hiding in drawers, hardly worn? Is it time to get rid of a few? Why is it when I put on a scarf I can’t find a hat to match?
So today I dragged out all my hats, scarves and gloves (and a few ‘pantas’) and laid them out on the day bed.
The Scarves. From left to right:
The Souvenir Scarf – made during my trip to the UK so I could never give it away
Magic Ball scarf – love and wear heaps
NSG Snake Scarf – could give away. Love the colour and pattern, but hated knitting the Noro Silk Garden
Purple Curly Whirly – more decorative than practical and could give away
Handspun Mistake Rib – love and from one of my few handspun yarns
Chunky Garter Rib – has to go, because it itches
Painted Warp – haven’t worn yet so I might put aside as possible present
White Diamonds Scarf – didn’t I say I wanted a white scarf?
Thin Scarf – great when you’re not sure it’s cold enough for a scarf
Piano Scarf – never giving his away as I made it when I was a teenager
This Ones For Me Scarf – like it, but it’s a bit stiff (later: softed up with a wash, though)
Red Mohair Scarf – itchy but goes with the jumper I made of the same yarn
Catch Me An Alpaca Scarf – I love and wear this a lot because it doesn’t itch
The hats and gloves. When I considered this lot, I realised that I’m fine with wearing zany scarves, but not so happy about being seen in zany or goofy hats. A hat can make your face look good or terrible, while scarves and gloves don’t usually make necks and hands look better or worse.
So I’m happy with all the gloves. I put a question mark on the burgundy fetchings and multicoloured mitts only because I’m not as attached to them. But I’ll keep them for now.
The two hats I was fine with getting rid of were both sideways knits but I don’t think that’s the reason I dislike them. The brown one doesn’t get worn because I love my felted alpaca one so much (the one with the brooch) that I always wear it when I want a brown hat. The blue one is the Wedgie Beanie that’s in my free patterns and I’m a bit over it. Hmm. Might remove that link…
I couldn’t get rid of the cream cabled hat as it’s the reason I rediscovered knitting. The blue and burgundy hat is reversable and I made it while I was in Orkney, so that has to stay.
Hey… I’ve got a black beanie! One I like, too. Hmm. Maybe it was good to just remind myself what I have. And wash it all, as some of these accessories are really dusty.
But what about matching up hats, scarves and gloves?
Okay, I clearly have a few burgundy items. The hat is the only piece here I didn’t knit myself. It’s a Flinders Island Fleece hat. What’s missing is a scarf. Well, I did buy that Shadow Tweed with the idea of replacing the NSG Snake Scarf, so I’ll go ahead and knit that.
Brown is also a favourite. The alpaca hat and scarf are a good set with the chocolate gloves. But there might be days I’d like the easy practicality of fingerless mitts. How about I frog the sideways knit brown hat and make some mitts instead?
It’s all very well having these quirky hats to go with the blue mitts, but some days I want a plain hat. Ah, that’s right. I have some Bendigo Neon in an interesting mix of charcoal with a blue/purple graduated thread. That would go with blues, purples and greys. Hmm, maybe I should dig up some grey yarn to make gloves, too.
So I’ve now got a scarf, hat and two pairs of gloves to knit. And I still want a white hat. I’m thinking the Stone Path hat from Interweave Crochet Winter 07. And cherry red hat, perhaps Koolhaas, and gloves.
Wait a minute. Didn’t I just say I had too many accessories already?