I like to use Berroco’s Yarn Tasting Kits to make something useful while exploring the yarns.
The project is another slouchy hat that uses up all yarns in the kit … I made one last fall (see picture) and it has turned out to be my favorite hat this (Texas) winter.

Instructions:

• Decide on the sequence in which to use the yarns. I make sure to choose a comfortable yarn for the ribbing, because that will be next to skin. The rest goes “by the looks”.
• I only use one needle size(US 2 - 2.75 mm, I knit very loosely, so likely your’s will be a 4 or 5) … I am a big supporter of Elizabeth Zimmermann who made a comment in one of her books that you can pretty much knit any gauge on whatever ‘sticks’ you have. Some yarns will work out looser than others, but knitting with one size gives you a pretty good impression if for a real project you should go up or down from whatever you’re using. Just sayin’ …
• For the fall hat I cast on a classic 108 sts, for the spring hat, using the Vintage Sock for the start, I chose 112 sts. This will fit a small to medium size adult.
• First sample is the Vintage Sock … I knit it all up in k2, p2 for the ribbing.
• I use the Modern Cotton (the only thicker yarn in the sample kit) for thin stripes… The first is right after the ribbing: knit one round, purl one round. Carry the yarn on the inside of the back between stripes. The stripes repeat after 8 rounds of whatever other yarn you’re using until it runs out.
• I’m just knitting stockinette to get a first impression of the new yarns … what they feel like while working with them, what they look like. If you’re curious, throw in a pattern into any of the areas between the small stripes.
• I’m working up the yarns in the sequence they are shown.
• For the last yarn, I’ll work some decreases … when it’s just the last yarn (Vintage Baby Handpaint), I worked decreases: Dec Rnd 1: K14, k2tog. Repeat to end. Knit two rounds. Dec Rnd 2: K13, k2tog. Repeat to end. Knit two rounds. Repeat the last two steps, decreasing the number of knitte stitches by one every time, until there are about 2 yards of yarn left. Next dec rnd: K2tog all around. Next row: Knit. Repeat the last two rounds one more time, then thread a needle, guide the end of the yarn through all stitches and pull close. Secure with a few stitches. Sew in all ends.

Block as desired.

Note: If you split the yarn in half, you can actually get two beanies out of the yarn kit!