Following the speedy success of Joel’s skull hat, it only seemed appropriate to follow up with a hat for Lily. Ever since doing Woolly Wormhead’s class at iKnit last September, I’ve been storing up patterns of her hats to knit, and have had my eye on Marina for a while, partly because it seems to be quite popular so I’d assumed it was engaging to knit.

I have some yarn which I bought from ebay from China. There’s pretty much enough to make a sweater for Lily, but I thought I’d spoil a good plan and make a hat with it.

Eschewing the nonsense of doing a tension square, I dove right in and wouldn’t you know it, it’s really engaging to knit. I “picked” this one as it’s garter stitch – so no tricky purling involved – and the yarn-overs are all dropped, so although I *did* wrap them the right way round, it didn’t really matter.

Day 1 went pretty quickly…

And by Day 3 it was finished. I did an extra pattern repeat than was called for in the small size as *when I tried it round Lily’s head* (remember this later) it seemed like it was going to be a bit snug. Finished, grafted, only a slight clue as to where the grafting is in the guise of an uneven end at the rim (what can I say – I’m not Woolly Wormhead!!), otherwise I’m pretty pleased with it.

So, I photograph it…

…and leave it on the kitchen table to present to Lily in the morning.

Morning comes, and Lily finds the hat, and tries it on. She doesn’t like it for 3 reasons:

1. It’s too scratchy. Wool content & not being washed yet means it’s a bit coarse. Maybe in future I need to wash woollens at least once before presenting them to the kids, or just use pure acrylic on their stuff.

2. Her head doesn’t go to the end of it. It’s a slouchy beannie rather than rasta-style, but you’d still need to be a bit alien-head to fill it out. Being a simple girl of simple tastes, Lily does not approve of this style.

3. She thought her hat would have pictures on it, like Joel’s does. The impatient part of me asks at which point when I was trying a pictureless hat round her head did she think the pictures were going to magically appear? The more patient & understanding of children’s minds part of me, in the guise of Steve (aka Daddy) pointed out that Lily doesn’t know how hats & knitting works. How is she supposed to know that the pictures *don’t* magically appear at the end?

We determined in 10 valuable school-day breakfast minutes that she would like a hat like Joel’s but green & blue like grass & sky with butterflies & flowers on. Is that all?

And why Mariiiinaaa? Because my boyfriend(‘s mum) from age 17 to 22(ish) had a cleaner called Marina whose name he always sang. It was a Thunderbirds reference, or something. And yes, you’re right, I didn’t grow up in the ghetto. In the 4 or so years I went out with him I met her only once, but I’ve never been able to say “Marina” straight since then.

So now I have green & blue yarn & have cast on another skull hat, only this time I have to chart butterflies & flowers before I can do the colourwork.

At least she didn’t ask for bunnies as well.