Forgotten knits

I have somehow forgotten to show off these finished knits, in spite of the fact that I wear them on an almost constant basis. 

My Handspun Hat;

Yarn; spindle-spun 3 ply yarn, using mixed-fibre batts from LHogan. This particular batt was named 'School Uniform' & I picked it up at the 2010 Knitting & Stitching Show. I dunno about you but my school uniform was never this interesting!  The batt was 100g; I did not use all the yarn to make the hat.

Needles; 4mm (taking my slightly loose tension into account.

Pattern; Made up. Based on many social occasions when surrounded by fellow knitters, I have come to the conclusion that I have an abnormally large head. Seriously, no grown woman that I have encountered has beat my 23.5 inch circumference. More room for brains?! So your typical woman's hat pattern is usually too small for me. 

I cast on 96 stitches & worked in 2 x 2 ribbing for about 2 inches, and then worked the rest of the hat in stocking stitches. The crown decreases are a combination of left-leaning & right-leaning decreases. 

I'm reasonably happy with the finished knit; it is slightly but not overly slouchy & very warm. However in extremely windy conditions I can feel it beginning to slip off my head. I do intend to re-knit the ribbing with a few stitch decreases for a little negative ease and a more secure fit.

Stocking Stitch Cowl:
Yarn; Malabrigo Lace, less than one skein, in 'Tuareg' colourway. Which amuses me as there is also a 'Tuareg' tea in the Tea Garden
Needles; 3.5 mm needles
Pattern; Another makey-uppey knit; this cowl is super cosy & super simple to knit. I cast on 140 stitches and knit in stocking stitch until I got fed up / a cold neck. This cowl is very light weight & thin but very cosy. It is long enough to cover my neck and the lower part of my head; for colder days I would have it tucked under a scarf and up under my hat just to make sure there are no gaps allowing in the cold. I've pulled it up over my face when walking into a cold wind, & have it slouching around my neck on not-so-cold days for just a little warmth. While malabrigo lace wears very badly, this simple cowl will still be useful & cosy even if pilled & fuzzy.

It's been very useful for some recent windswept hillwalking excursions.

Photos by Tom (aka 'The Fella')