Oh dear, this does look bad. But it’s not a baby hat, and I had already decided to knit it AGES ago. Honest!
DS1 is a huge fan of Manchester United. So when I saw this pattern appear on Ravelry, I showed him it and he was practically leaping around the room at the thought of having a special Man U hat, how could I refuse to knit him one? Seriously, getting any sort of enthusiasm from an 11 year old about anything is rare, so I need to make the most of it. I thought I’d be safe from teenage apathy for a couple of years at least. 
The pattern is designed by Tori, who also designed the beautiful Hippocampus mittens that were in the Winter ’08 issue of The Inside Loop (and I will knit them one day, I will!) She’s designed a range of football club hats to raise funds for a new football ground in Lillehammer, which they clearly need from the photos, so if you know any Man U/Liverpool/AC Milan/Barcelona/Juventus supporters who might need their heads warming, then here is a good place to start looking for patterns. 
I’m using the yarn specified in the pattern. It’s Dalegarn Falk, 100% wool and machine washable (my heart sang at that point because you really don’t want to know what happens to small boys’ hats over the course of a winter and I don’t think a gentle soak in some Eucalan would cut it) bought from Dragon Yarns and feels really nice. Will be interesting to see how it blooms after washing.
But I’m saving this to start at the beginning of August. I want to get as much knitting done before October, anyway – even winter hats! – but Mr B is off for a gentle stroll some serious walking with the small people and some of his work colleagues in the Cotswolds for the weekend. So I am tagging along and planning to spend the day sitting on a comfy chair with my knitting and a regular supply of tea and food while they’re off sweating. 
So this should keep me occupied for the day! We’re staying here, so it’s not exactly roughing it.
That’s such a cool pattern, I might knit one for my man. However, he’s a Tottenham supporter. The place where you’re going looks lovely, enjoy it and the knitting you get to do there!
Are you going to join the Pudding Club? Vx
You’re trying to kill me with all these links to yarn stores, aren’t you!!
I’ve never heard of that yarn before, but it looks good (machine washable is always good!). Let us know how it knits up, k?
As an Anglophile who has yet to see the scepter’d isle, your posts are always a bit painful.
My daughter has been accepted by the University of Edinburgh, so I plan to finally see the UK next summer. I told my husband I was not waiting for him to be in the mood any longer, but now that his “princess” is going, I suspect he will join me next summer.
I have had the route planned for several years. He does NOT get a vote. Why? Because he told her she ought to look into whether or not the University of Edinburgh was “reputable.”
I abused him soundly: The University of Edinburgh reputable? The reason Edinburgh is known as the “Athens of the North?” The one that’s only been there since the 1500s?
:sigh: Americans can be soooooo stupid. (And, yes, I’m an American AND a Californian, so I get to be doubly embarassed by The Governator. :sigh:)