I went home to our family farm in Illinois for Thanksgiving

and got to meet the newest member of our small family...

little baby Hayes Wilbur.

Cousins:  Hayes and me

Wilbur was my Grandpa's name (and Hayes' great-grandpa)!

I knitted him some overalls and a trapper hat...

Maybe a future farmer?

Awhile back my aunt gave me some old mason jars with cool zinc lids that were from the farm.

I made each family, and some old friends, a snow globe as a keepsake.

Here are a few of them.

I found several old bottle trees at a Goodwill store and knew immediately what I'd do with them.
The red trucks on the ribbon remind me of the tree farm just up the road when we were growing up.
A great memory is watching through the window of the house
as vehicles drove by with their Christmas trees strapped to the top!

Baby Hayes' parents have cattle on the farm,

and I just happened to have a little cow in my stash of itsy-bits in my studio. 

A red rick-rack scarf makes her look festive!

The 'M' is a vintage Scrabble tile, also in my studio stash!

If you noticed the band-aid on my hand in the photo above,

it's the result of an unfortunate incident with a hot glue gun while making these jars.  Yikes!  

But it's healing nicely and hasn't slowed down my knitting at all!

I've been working on Christmas orders and gifts,

and I'm just feeling so very blessed and grateful for another healthy year.

My kitty Lucky

Hats and Ear Warmers

Of all the hats I've made the last couple seasons,

these multi-strand stocking caps continue to be favorites and best sellers.

Just like snowflakes, no two are exactly alike!

This bulky yarn is a 20% wool blend, just enough to wool to be super warm

without all the scratchy business of pure wool.

They would be a fantastic unisex gift...how about one of these for a fun gift exchange?  

I've also been told they're great on the ski slopes!

It's me, your friendly local knitter!
I really dislike selfies...grrrr.

These hats with a cute flap on the brim are made with soft bulky yarn

and are available in any color.

One thing I love about making them

is using buttons from my (mostly) vintage button collection.

My gorgeous friend Sarah

A yarn or faux fur pompom can be added to any hat, just so ya know.

Speaking of pompoms...how fun is this one?!

Here are some more snapshots of hats I've recently made

that are for sale in a local boutique.

Cable knit, with or without pompom

Unisex hats

Hats, hats, everywhere hats...

A popular request each season is school "spirit wear".

My nephew attends a school whose colors are red, white and Columbia blue

so that's what I'm showing here,

but any color combinations and styles are possible!

Sarah wearing hat, neck warmer and fingerless gloves

I love when Moms request spirit wear for themselves to wear to kids' games!

I've also matched color schemes of colleges and national sports teams.

This is a great way to show support and spirit in unique style!
And makes a fun gift.

I was swooning over all the knit hats our American athletes wore during the Winter Games
so I found a pattern that was similar to one of the designs.

It was really fun to knit this while watching the games.  Even my girl Pippa represented!

I've been getting requests for "messy bun" and ponytail hats.

I don't have many pictures of the ones I've made but
here are a couple to give an idea of how they're worn.  Any color and size is possible.

My friend's awesome teenage daughter Anita
wearing a messy bun hat

Sarah wearing a low ponytail hat

In the winter months I rarely go outside without something covering my ears. 

I go (really!) bonkers having any kind of draft or breeze in my ears.

So when not wearing a hat, my go-to is a headband/ear warmer. 

With or without buttons

Cable knit

You'll always find me sporting one during yoga classes because the studio tends to be drafty
(we're in Wisconsin, after all).
In the warmer months we have class outside where it can be breezy,
so I wear a headband/ear warmer just about all year long.

And now for another moment of truth!

One of my least favorite parts of getting ready for the day is styling my hair...
bring on the headband/ear warmer!

Covering up a bad hair day in Vail, CO on a sisters' getaway

It truly makes my heart happy knowing my knitted stuff is being worn and loved!

My adorable friend Stephanie

Stephanie and her hubby James.  They're SO cute, right?

Here's how you can contact me and Pippa:

Email:  berge.rager@yahoo.com

Facebook/Messenger:  Amanda Berge Rager