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Here's a Miss Dashwood in Cotton Fleece for my niece (hey, that rhymes!). She turned one yesterday and is actually a baby who will wear hats. I intended this to be a sun hat for her, but I'm wondering if the yarn I used will be too warm for summer. I guess it can always be a winter sun hat, there's always at least some sun here in Southern CA, even when the weather's not so warm. I did it without the ear flaps, just in case it does work. It wasn't done for her party yesterday, so J agreed to model it for me today:

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As you can tell by the contrast-y photo, the hat does actually shade the face! Mission accomplished.

Here's a shot that is truer to color:

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Pattern: Miss Dashwood by Heather Ramsay, from Knitty.com
Yarn: Brown Sheep Cotton Fleece (80% cotton, 20% merino wool), in color CW-225, Coral Sunset. This was left over from the watermelon Daisy, for the same niece. I don't know if that sweater still fits, but she now has another matching hat if it does!
Needles: US3/3.25mm DPNs
Gauge: 5.5 st/in
Modifications: The yarn is thinner than the Cashmerino Aran called for in the pattern, and I also wanted a bit stiffer fabric for less floppiness in the brim, so I went down a few needle sizes and adjusted for gauge. I knit the 2-3yo size pretty much per the pattern (minus the ear flaps) for a 1-2yo finished size (~18.5" circumference at the brim).

By the way, moss stitch on two stitches for the ties? PITA, even with knitting backwards. Next time I might try something with crochet instead.

And really, if you didn't click through to the pattern, you must. With a baby that cute, how can you not knit this? I fully admit to being influenced by the cuteness of the pattern photos. I'm a sucker for an adorable baby.