Pulling From Stash

My friend Tom could not find a gray that he liked at a price he wanted.    We chat every morning on the bus.   I had noticed that he could use a new one.   The stash holds a lot of gray yarn.   I pulled some and knit up the Two by Two hat for him.   He got it yesterday and loved it.

Elan's Chateau in Black Pearl

When I saw the way the crown shaping was done in this pattern, I had to try it.   Any time someone figures out an elegant way to shape the top of a hat....in ribbing no less....I want to give it a go.  I did a version of this in Berroco's Ultra Alpaca to see what I thought about the pattern.   Made a few mistakes, fixed them, and gave it to someone on Christmas Eve.    The Elan Chateau was a limited edition luxury blend of merino, cashmere, and angora.  Knitting it was a pleasure.  It did really need to be washed to soften up.  It is not the most resilient of yarns but the stitch definition is exquisite.   I have a bit more.   I may make a hat for myself......gray or blue???????