This year, my niece Victoria started college. She is an exceptional student who finished in the top 5% of her class. (It’s my blog so I am taking editorial license to be a proud aunt). She is a scholar-athlete who competed in both individual and team sports and even broke a track record. She received scholarships and grants but it was still a stretch to cover all those college costs. I honestly don’t know how regular middle-class Americans can afford to send their kids to college. So, she is living with us and commuting to school every day. We emptied the guest room, picked up a great daybed from IKEA that pulls out into a full-size bed for guests. We also got her a desk and a really cool chair and let her decorate the rest of her “dorm” room. She has black-and-white posters of Marilyn and Audrey and the New York skyline on her walls and small LED lights around the perimeter. It has been a delight to have her in our home. We have two boys so she is the daughter we never had.
As the weather started turning a bit cold, I decided to knit her a hat. I found this pattern which she promptly approved of with the request that it be in a white or cream color. I found this off-white bulky yarn at the fiber festival. It was half off and perfect for the hat. It’s Yearling by Juniper Moon Farm, a wonderful blend of 60% merino wool and 40% cotton, and it has been discontinued. I love this yarn! I already have several skeins of it in bright colors in my stash. It’s a great yarn for knitting in Texas because the wool brings warmth but the cotton tempers it a bit.
Once I got past the brim, the basket weave texture started to show itself.
I love the look of it! My niece loved it too.
I topped it off with a big pompom.
Now she can keep her head warm as she goes from class to class.
Agujas 
Oh that’s wonderful!
Thanks 😊
That looks just delicious. And what a nice auntie you are to host your niece and knit her a wonderful hat!
We are enjoying having her around.
that’s beautiful! your niece is lucky!
We are lucky too. Thanks!
I still have a similar one my mom knitted for me 40 years ago. 😉
Wow! It would be great if my niece kept this one that long! Do you wear yours? That is so special.
That looks terrific! The aunt/niece connection is very important to me, too. My niece is choosing a college right now and I want to weave her a scarf with her school colors.
Great idea! I’m sure she will love that! My son is waiting to hear from a couple of schools. I am so anxious!
Oh wonderful. That wool reminds me of a cotton I get at my local yarn shop. It is not dyed though but feels wonderful and makes great rabbits. The hat you made is so nice. Such a good aunty.
Thank you. I’m glad you liked the hat. I was so pleased when I saw her wearing it for the first time. The yarn does have a very nice texture. Too bad they have discontinued this particular line.
It’s a beautiful hat, love the wool and basket weave has always been a favourite of mine.
I thought it would be a difficult stitch but it’s actually quite easy! I loved the pattern so much, I’m already planning to knit a couple more – one for my mom and one for me!
I think you have a very chuffed niece on your hands! 🙂
We might be spoiling her a bit …
I love the hat! Great texture. The yarn looks rather fabulous too!
Thanks. I really like this yarn. I have a couple more skeins in a bright blue. Might use them for another of these hats.
Lovely!!! She will wear it everyday or else lol 🙂
It is getting a bit colder here finally. I hope she gets to wear it often.