A Husband's Boyfriend Hat

Following my success with the Giftie Slouchie Beanie I really wanted to knit another hat as soon as possible.  I had to bully poor John into looking at yarn and hat options with me - he really wasn't convinced that I could find a yarn that wouldn't make him itch (he's very sensitive, poor soul).  But I was hopeful (and determined!) that I would be able to find something soft enough - so that I could satisfy my knitting urge and hopefully make something that he'd like to wear.

We settled on Auarucania Puelo from Meadow Yarn.  John loved the variegated jade/royal/forest/denim colour-way and I was pretty sure that, being 100% llama, it would be very soft indeed.  I had imagined a more subtle colour than this (I was thinking of a rugged grey) but there's only so much persuading one can do with a husband who isn't convined of the merits of a handknit hat in the first place!  And, I did try to remember that he'd be the one wearing it (I hoped).

We went for the Boyfriend Hat, a free download from Ravelry. John asked that I make it deeper so that his ears would be well covered.  My first attempt was far too big and the actual knit felt too lose and not warm enough, not what I had been hoping for.  Next attempt I doubled the yarn and only cast on 70 stitches.  I knit for 7" before decreasing (rather than 5.5" in the pattern) - and it worked.  A hat that John likes, and will wear.  Doubling the yarn worked well - it is much thicker and chunkier and shows off the ribs better.  The yarn really is very beautiful and soft too - the very fact that John is happy to wear it means it must be very soft indeed.  Ravelled here.

And the rest of these photos are from a wee walk yesterday at my mum and dad's house (they are still in South Africa, but will be back in a couple of weeks.  It will be wonderful to see them again and to go back to just one dog!).  We went over for 36 hours just to have a break from the house and selling.  I had to pop back home for a viewing but it was still good to escape, walk and not think about whether the cats have been walking in the bath again (it is driving me nuts, I have had to add it to my list of things to do before a viewing.....check for muddy cat prints in the bath).  Two more viewings this afternoon.  We've only been on the market for 5 days so all is going well but I am thoroughly over the novelty already - and I suspect the dogs are going to get very fed-up of spending time in the car too.

I hope that you have had a lovely weekend and have had a chance to enjoy some sunshine too.