Pattern: Robin, from Thrown Together by Kim Hargreaves

Yarn: Knitpicks Gloss in Dusk, slightly over one skein MC, Mondial Extra fine for the pom.

Needles: US 0 and 1

Notes: This little beret was a fun and quick knit (well, as much as anything in 4-ply yarn can ever be considered quick.)  The pattern was clear, with only one error (the final number of stitches to tie off doesn’t match up with what you have, but I just went with it.)

I am not traditionally a hat person.  In fact, I think it would be safe to say that before I started knitting I hadn’t worn a hat since childhood.  I was convinced they made me look like a giant conehead, but I think I’m mostly over that now.

The first concern with a hat like this is always “will it be too slouchy?”  I was a bit concerned with my yarn choice – I know from knitting thermal that Gloss grows insanely on blocking – and this hat did need blocking.  So I knit the hat to 8 st/in rather than the 7 st/in called for, and ended up after blocking with the correct size hat.  This pattern is knit flat, not a bad thing, but the purling got old… I might make it in the round if I made another.

The other question with this hat was “to pom pom or not to pom pom?”  Originally I said no… I didn’t want to look like I was wearing a funny golfing hat.  But the way the decreases pull the hat inward towards the crown, I thought it looked funny without one, like something was missing.  So I made a pom pom, my very first, and I am most proud of it.  It’s not too big, and not too funny looking I hope!

I would recommend this pattern to anyone – it was fun and made a hat that will not be too warm for fall.