Having finished or put aside all but one wip, I had to start another last night.

In preparation for my big accessory knit-up, some days ago I’d thrown together some patterns and yarn, put them in a big bag and plonked it next to the couch. Rifling through, I decided on the simplest project, since I wasn’t in the mood for anything challenging.

I settled on the Bendy Neon Hat. This was to be a plainish hat, I’d decided. But what sort of plainish hat? In my mind I saw a hat with a folded-up ribbed brim then stocking stitch up to the crown. Like the Hello Possum Hat I’d made for my New Zealand friend. Mmm. Mistake rib. That would make it a bit more interesting. And having just knit an enire jacket in rib, more interesting is a good thing.

So I cast on 100 stitches and started knitting. (I’ve found that if I’m using 8ply/dk yarn for a hat, 100 stitches is usually about right. Gotta love a nice round number. The only time this didn’t work was when I knit a highly cabled hat, which turned out too small, which made complete sense after I’d knit it.)

The 100 stitches rule is why I’ve matched up some Bendigo Classic 8ply/dk with the Koolhaas pattern, even through the pattern seems to specify 10ply/aran. The pattern is about 100 stitches around. I figure if it doesn’t work, I’ll add or subtract a pattern repeat.

The other yarn to pattern match I’ve made was one of those nice little serendipitous moments. For my white hat I want to crochet the Stone Path Hat pattern. It specifies fingering weight yarn, but I had no white sock yarn. Because I don’t often knit with thin yarn, I automatically think fingering = sock yarn.

Then I remembered that skein of white yarn from my Old Yarn post. I’d had it slated for a lace scarf, which I may never get around to because I don’t like knitting lace. But I’d originally bought it to knit socks out of, before I realised there was no point me making socks out of anything non-machine washable.

It’s perfect. And while I seem to have enough based on the weight, there’s the extra reassurance of the hat being knit from the crown downward, so if I run out I simply leave off or knit a smaller brim.

Not all my pattern to yarn matching has been successful lately. I’ve given up on the idea of knitting the Snapping Turtle Skirt from Shadow Tweed. I suspect the ST isn’t robust enough for a skirt. In fact, I’m very close to abandoning this pattern altogether. Between the difficulties in finding an appropriate yarn and a suspicion that something that bulky is only going to enhance a pear-shaped figure, I’m not sure it’s worth the trouble. There are lots of other patterns in the Knitting Nature book that I love, too. And now that I’ve knit Shadow Tweed, I can see this yarn’s true calling is to become a big, snuggly jumper.

Other abandoned projects? Well, I decided to donate the brown beanie to the op shop rather than reuse the yarn to knit mitts. With winter coming, I’m sure someone else needs the beanie more than I need yet another pair of mitts.

I also abandoned the droplet scarf, after I realised I didn’t like the way the colours changed in the yarn I was using. I might try this again sometime, with a different yarn, if I can face that much i-cord.

Lately I’ve also had some exciting ideas for dyeing yarn, and quirky ways to use up my small stash of fibre. But they’ll probably have to wait until post-deadline time.