Winter is here - time for a new hat

Well, it feels like winter this weekend.  A cold arctic wind has been blowing over Britain and brought the soggy weather with it.   So, to celebrate this, I decided it was time for a new hat.

My old grey one was looking ... well, old and grey.  It is a snug hat that keeps my ears warm, and was bought for me when I was having chemotherapy to keep my bald head warm through the winter.   I felt it was time to have something new.

I bought two balls of  Rowan Felted Tweed from John Lewis and, using the same pattern I used when I made hats for friends and family for Christmas (the Boyfriend hat).

I used an entire ball of wool on the main part of the hat before starting the decreases. As I found that the pattern's recommendation of  a length of 5.5in was far too short, I knew to make it longer.

The next day, I had to decide whether to make a pom-pom to put on top of the hat, or to crochet a flower. As I am still quite new to crochet, I did want to at least try, and had found a nice pattern via Pinterest that would look good. My old hat has a flower, and I always liked it.  The Wagon Wheel Flower pattern was reasonably easy to follow... although it appears to lead you to make the inner petals first and then the outer ones, and having made the first set I was worried the flower would be too big, so I adjusted it slightly so I added the second, smaller set of petals at the front with chains of 4 and 9 double crochet, but otherwise following the instructions.

I was pleased with the outcome and sewed it onto the hat, but when I tried it on, it was a little itchy against my forehead.  So, I decided to add a lining.    Luckily, I had bought a couple of fleece blankets from Ikea not long ago, intending to use them for camping. We did use them for camping, and they were great.  And they were purple... and exact match for my new hat.   So, after having found a website with great instructions on both how to make a full lining for a knitted hat or a headband lining, I cut a strip of fleece and set to.  

The only mistake I made here was that I cut my strip the wrong way, so the stretch was on the short edge, not the long edge.  But seeing as it is only me that will wear the hat, I don't think it will matter too much.

I'm really pleased with the finished hat.  It is warm, but not too warm (I think a full lining would have been), fits perfectly, and doesn't make my forehead itch!

And not only practical, but it looks nice too.     So, at £13.50 for the wool (2 balls bought, 1.5 used), £3 for the Ikea blanket (albeit I only used a tiny strip) and say, 6 hours of my time, that hat is probably a lot more pricey than any you'll buy in the shops - but its mine, and unique.