4/9/11: Finished! I didn’t do stripes or the texture pattern, just simple stockinette with one MC and one CC for the button band and ribbing. After the increases, I just knit to 8 inches from cast on edge and then started the ribbing (with the smaller needle and CC). Came out perfectly. I LOVE THIS HAT. I have enough yarn left over to reverse the colors and make another one, and I definitely will.

3/31/11: Starting this hat for a friend who has cancer. We are hoping that she doesn’t lose her hair, but she’ll get the hat either way. The Malabrigo Rios is very squishy and soft. I bought some cool shell buttons to use - can’t wait to see how they look sewn on. I am using 862 for the main color and 850 for the button band.