12/5 - I decided to replace the old cap by making a new one for Christmas. We went to JoAnns and picked out some new yarn. I told Shawn to pick out a color he thought was nice, he was like what’s it for, and I said I don’t know, just tell me what color you like best. ;) He quit asking what it was for and picked out a nice heathered brownish green.

12/7 - Started in on the edge.

12/23 - So I haven’t worked on this for a while. Shawn went to jail (for something really stupid that he did NOT do, but apparently, as I have experienced myself, the way our legal and police system works, the person who does the wrong thing doesn’t always end up getting punished) so I didn’t work on this for a while. I bonded him out Christmas Eve, and picked this back up then. Dev said he felt bad that we didn’t get him any gifts (he was locked up for a good week or two and we weren’t expecting to get the money for the bond so we weren’t anticipating him being out for Christmas) so I explained that covering a $6,000 bond was more than enough of a Christmas gift in itself. That and I bought him a lovely leather journal but that’s another story. Anyways, I started knitting this again on Friday night while watching Dev, Isaiah and his sister Moriah. I finished all the edge rows and after reviewing my notes from last time (I took SERIOUS notes because I ended up knitting the last one about 3 times, for cereal! I did it, undid it, redid it, and repeat! NOT FUN.)Anyways, I added an extra repeat to the edge for 6 rows total. It works out much better that way for the stitch pattern when doing the increases and decreases.

12/24 - Worked a little on the brim when not running back and forth from the jail to Amy’s to the bail bond office back to the jail to the house back to Amy’s for dinner then home. We had a LOVELY Christmas Eve dinner at her house with her in-laws and some friends. This is the FIRST Christmas in SIX YEARS I have been able to spend with my son. So to also have Shawn with us makes it very VERY special. :)

12/25 - Merry Christmas! We had a wonderful Christmas. I got the entire brim knit just sitting around doing nothing but relaxing and enjoying my family on Christmas Day! My sister Amy and her new husband (my brother-in-law) Dave came over and we all opened gifts. Funny how much knitting I can do when I sit down for a few hours!

1/10/12 - Knitting away! I knit the last row on the back part of the chart. I can’t remember exactly what I do next, I just remember it looks like an opened can when you work down the top. It looks very nice. I tried it on Shawn’s head over the weekend though, and it’s kind of big. I will make any adjustments I need to when I sew in the brim.

1/16 - Knitting through the top chart now. I got about 1/4 of the way through over the weekend. I got a neat little mini-dry erase board that I converted into a chart holder. It’s magnetic and about 8 1/2” x 4” so it’s the perfect size for any charts. I was able to put the two back ones side by side and this top one I just fold in half and it fits perfect. I also got some CRAZY strong neodynium magnets on clearance at Office Depot. There were only 4 in the package but that’s all you need! That’s the same kind of magnet as the buckey balls, those toys they don’t let little kids hold in the store cause if you swallow them they pinch your intestines and kill you. In fact Dev had one in his hand and I put the other one under his hand and it flipped over! Anyways, they’re great for holding the charts in place. And I made a little easel that holds it all up while I work. That’s why I got so much done. That and I was knitting during the Broncos game so I had no distractions! ;)

10/5/14 - I fucking hate having this thing laying around & I really hate seeing it in my projects so I decided to finish it for myself. I watched Harry Potter & the Sorcerer’s Stone while finishing the top. I seamed the lid down & pulled out an old hat brim. Now all I need to do is sew the brim into the hat & I got MYSELF a fancy spanking new hat. :)

10/6 - Even after sewing in the brim this just doesn’t fit. I’m going to frog it.