Of course I offered to make her one which she requested in a sort of oatmeal colour like the picture. Then Dawn said she would like one too and also Jackie said she would like a red hat and before I knew it I offered to make them all one in different colours and one for myself seeing as we're a team and all that.
Here's the one I made for Fran
It took three attempts. On the first attempt I realised that it was going to be far too small so I pulled it out and started again. On the second bigger attempt I realised it would fit (just) but once I had started the shaping at the top I realised it was too short so pulled it all out and started again, a bit wider and a bit longer. On the third attempt it worked out fine.
The other hats were a lot easier after that. Here is Dawn's.
And here is Jackie's.
I used King Cole Big Value Aran from Wool Warehouse in Oatmeal, Damson and Cranberry. The pattern calls for button eyes but wanting to be a bit more glam I bought strings of beads from Hobbycraft in the jewellery making section. They were only about £1 for each string of about 32 beads.
After that I was pretty sick of them and wanted to do something else. So using the coming spring and slight possibility of warmer weather as an excuse I put off making mine, in seaspray until next winter. Much to the disappointment of Fran, Dawn and Jackie.
Heaven help me if any of them ever find out that there's now a free fingerless glove pattern to match. Ssshhh!!!
