bumpy hat

Most weeks, we go to an "indoor park," which is basically an open play-group with great toys & equipment in a big open space.  There are many of these around the area, hosted at churches, community centers, etc.  These spaces alleviate the problem of soggy bark dust and muddy swings at the outdoor parks.  Frankly, indoor park is a lifesaver in the winter/rainy/blechy months (i.e. October through May); when kids still have energy and need to run.  Ah, but enough about the weather, right?

The boys play, and I visit with other mamas.  It is good... very good.  Once in a while, I take a knitting project with me to enjoy while supervising.  While I'm no wonder-knitter, I have been learning the skill and enjoying the projects.  I even made pumpkin-style hats for the Obi's, who constantly get compliments from strangers who believe they're twins.

Anyway, indoor park has these amazing little "bumpy" balls.  My Obi-2 loves them.  Last fall, as I was knitting away on a sweater project that still remains unfinished, he spontaneously asked me to knit him a bumpy hat.  I squinted at him and wondered aloud, "a bumpy hat?!"  

He trekked a ball over to me and pointed, "See?  Like this - a bumpy hat."  Leave it to my 2-year old.  Since this isn't a knitting blog, I don't often post my feeble endeavors in the sport.  However, this hat turned out to be quite an adventure, since I couldn't find any patterns to suit him.  We also had to search through about 12 different shades of green yarn to find the color he had in mind.  For such a young guy, he really has set opinions on things.  I wonder where he gets that.... 

I eventually figured out how to make bobbles and improvised on a couple basic hat patterns until I got it just right.  He loves his hat, and wears it constantly - indoor park and all.   Perhaps I'll figure out how to post a document here and share the pattern soon.  In the meantime, here's a photo of the boy and his bumpy hat.

(edited... photo taken offline. sorry.)