A Tale of One Pair of Gloves and Four Hats

When I went home for Christmas I spent my usual goodly amount of time figuring out what my ‘trip knitting’ would be. I decided that as my mother had requested “Handknitted fingerless gloves in fingering weight with partial fingers,” I would use my many long hours on a plane to accomplish some stealth knitting. All the way from Lusaka to Dubai, in Dubai, and then from Dubai to Dallas I worked on the first pair. When I took my trip up north to Columbus and then down to Atlanta, I continued to knit away. Since I choose a really basic pattern, I used an arched cable pattern down the back of the hand to keep the knitting ennui away. I don’t have a picture of them yet (hint hint Mother!), but I was pretty happy with how they turned out. The worst part of the project? The fingers. I’ve always been a fan of fingerless gloves because there was no fiddly finger part! That being said, after getting a taste of real cold up in Ohio, I can see the appeal…

Once I arrived in Texas I quickly found myself some other knitting to occupy my hands. I decided that I was going to make hats for each of my three sisters as Christmas gifts. I had already made two pairs of socks and a scarf for said sisters, but what’s Christmas without frantic knitting? So, I finally bought the Verity pattern that been in my queue for forever, and made a green hat for Lucy.

Love, love, LOVE this pattern! That being done, I went looking for more ‘hipster’ patterns for my other two sisters. For Mercy I found “Shannon’s Slouchy Hat”—a quick, easy knit. I ended up adding a few stitches to it and adjusting the ribs accordingly; I might make myself one some day.

For Mary I choose the “C’mon Baby Twist and Slouch.” Again, I really liked this pattern; I can see making myself one. Because you know, I need so many hats here in the bush!

Well, after all that hat knitting, I still had a little time between Christmas and New Years, and since it was actually a little cold, I figured I should cash in one what hat wearing time I could. So, I made myself a Verity in a lovely teal color. I had great fun wearing it until I left to come back to my more usual tropical climes.

Thus, the story of the four hats I knit in December, and the pair of fingerless gloves that as my somewhat awed friend remarked were a real gift of love. Now, what shall I knit for next Christmas?