More hat knitting

I'm still in recovery from the trauma of knitting my Potter's Shawl, so I've been restricting myself to knitting only small projects. My theory is that a small project, while I'm in recovery, will prevent me from going off the deep end.

I enjoy knitting hats off and on during the year to donate to various organizations as winter approaches.

I noticed on Knitting Paradise last week that Yelena Chen had released a new hat pattern, "Casey," and it was on sale for $1.99 for a limited time.

I snatched it up.

I've knitted three or four of Yelena's earlier hat patterns and love their designs.

This one just might be my favorite. Isn't the band attractive?

The top photo is the first one I made. I used a skein of KnitPicks yarn that I found at Goodwill last week for $1.

While at the Cashmere Goat in Camden, Violet helped me choose this deep turquoise yarn. It's a skein of Berroco Vintage worsted. What a beautiful yarn: wool, acrylic and nylon. There's enough yarn in one skein to knit two Casey hats.

(Violet chose this turquoise yarn because, at age 10, she's now in her "Turquoise Stage," which should not be confused with her Pink and Purple Stage, which lasted from age 3 to age 9. I much prefer her Turquoise Stage.)

I'm now knitting Casey #3.

P.S. Yesterday I did an inventory of my yarn stash. It's stored in three tubs here in my study. I did a similar inventory about four years ago, and my goal at that time was to reduce the stash by at least 50% over the next few years.

Major fail. That's all I can say. MAJOR fail.

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