Diane, Cairi and yours truly are taking part in what could be the world’s smallest hat swap. Tis very simple: we each choose a pattern and yarn and send it to another person, so we all knit a hat and get one of our choice back. So Cairi has got my Baby Cashmerino (that’s where it went!) and I have got Diane’s choice.

The yarn is Fiddlesticks Country Silk Demi, which is 50% wool, 30% silk, 20% nylon. It’s lovely, with a nubbly texture, a bit like the yarn version of Raisin Wheats (!) and knitted up the colours blend together really well. Definitely a sophisticated yarn and not for wee white bunnies.

The pattern she has chosen to go with the yarn is a beret from Louisa Harding’s Hats, Gloves, Scarves book. After spending a ridiculously long time working the picot cast on (and the more I do it, the more I want to use it in a design, even though it takes three times as long as a regular cast on), I am speeding along. As much as a person can with 218 stitches on 2.5mm needles..!

And it will be all finished by Saturday or I’ll eat my hat.