I Am Not In Denial

I cast on a hat today.  I sped through the knitting of Ptarmigan because my sister insisted that I continue knitting my "wrist warmers" (quotation marks used to emphasize the disaster that they are), which use the same needles.  The same needles which I stole from the blanket I'm still knitting for my brother (but let's not talk about that).

Those needles are now occupied with a hat, most likely fueled by the guilt I feel about my Ptarmigan friend.  A neckwarmer is not enough.  I hat is definitely needed, and the sooner the better.

I'm in such a hurry, in fact, that I convinced myself that finding, purchasing, downloading, and deciphering a pattern would simply take far too much time and the only rational thing to do in this situation is to design the hat on the fly.

"On the fly" started last light as I pored over knitting pattern books and old magazines trying to find what I was looking for.  My criteria were minimal and, well, vague.  I thought things like "warm" and "nice".

I then decided I didn't need to find a pattern yet because before I could begin knitting in pattern I have to knit at least four if not six inches of 2x2 ribbing.  I like 2x2 ribbing and I think that a person living in a cold climate can greatly benefit from a hat with a brim that folds up to form a double-layer of warmth.  It's a practical thing and I stand by my choice.

I have a friend in town audition at my school and while I was sitting in the waiting room, I cast on for this hat.  An argument ensued about whether or not this hat is going to fit the recipient.  I believe it will.  Here are my reasons.

1. Knitting is stretchy
2. Ribbing is stretchier
3. This friend might have a small head

Her reasons are unsupportable things such as "that looks small" and "knitting doesn't stretch that much".

While knitting this bit of ribbing another friend walked past and asked what I was making.  When I told her that I was making a warm, nice hat with a folded-up brim for a friend, her first reaction was "I hope your friend has a small head!"

Clearly these people don't understand.  This hat is most definitely going to fit my friend's head.  Knitted ribbing is extremely stretch and my friend very well may have a small head.  I know the knitting looks a bit small, but it'll grow.  There's no point in ripping it out now before I can prove to them their error.  I should continue to knit until I have at least six inches just so I have ample fabric with which to prove them all wrong.

This hat is clearly going to fit.  I cast on more than enough stitches and even though it looks small, it will grow once stretched around my friend's head.  I am not in denial.  The knitting will continue and this hat will be fantastic.  There's no way it's too small.