pattern: made up as I went along, see below for some details
yarn: Kreutzer Farms Fiber bulky handspun yarn, approximately 80 yards
needles: size US 11 / 8.0mm and US 15 / 10.00 16" circulars

I was such a spoiled girl this Christmas, with friends and family giving me several different gift certificates for local yarn shops. I managed to add quite a bit of yarn to my stash in just a few short hours' time thanks to those cards!

I was also spoiled by my dear friend Bonnie (mama to Owen's best friend Jack), who took the time to look up a Nebraska-based sheep farm and pick me up a skein of handspun yarn!

Kreutzer Farms Fiber raises Jacob Sheep, unique in their horns and their efficient nature (they can be raised on smaller acrage than many other breeds). They also have these gorgeous coats, which spins up into amazingly soft and special yarn.

Bonnie ordered enough for me to make an extra-slouchy hat, which I had fully intended to gift back to her as a thank you. Until I put it on my head Monday morning, that is -- at that point, the hat uncerimoniously became MINE, MINE, MINE!

I've begun a new schedule, thanks to school starting up last week. I now walk to the bus stop a block from my home three days a week and get dropped off about 1/2 mile from work. This means when the winter winds blow my ears get extremely cold, and the comfy and slouchy Elizabeth hat I made for myself is a bit too loose. Last week was warmer (arounf 40 farenheit) so I didn't need to worry that much. This week however, is a different story.

I love walking to and from the bus stop, to and from classes at school, all around midtown Omaha. I had forgotten just how nice it is to be out in the middle of the day, sun shining on my face, not having to worry how much pollution I was spilling into the world driving all by myself in a car.

(And apparently my pollution aint got nothin' on China)

But walking 10 minutes in 9 degree weather isn't fun when the wind is whipping around your ears, causing you to get ear infections and sinus trouble! So this hat is quite the perfect little savior! I can wear it super slouchy (like in the first photo above) or double the brim over and STILL have enough slouch for my liking as the weather gets super cold!

And while I've been known to give folks the hat right off my head, I'm pretty sure this one will be staying in my small wardrobe for quite some time!

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I'm making 300 hats in 2013. This is hat 10 / 300.

I'm making 10,000 hats for 10,000 people. This is hat 295.

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