I love knitting. I love knitting for practical purposes and knitting for fun. I learned how long ago, when I was a cadette in the Girl Scouts. One of my scout leaders taught me on large needles with bulky yarn. I took to it pretty easily, then put the needles down for about 10 years, while I went to high school, then joined the Navy and worked while traveling the world for the next 13 years. Shortly before leaving the Navy, when I was on shore duty, had my own apartment and suddenly found myself with free time, I picked the needles back up. It was like riding a bike. Like I'd never stopped. Granted, I didn't know much past casting on, knitting purling, and casting off, but it was still easy. I knit my little heart out, making pillow covers, washcloths, and anything that could be constructed out of a simple rectangle.

Then, the knitting world exploded. All of a sudden, it was cool to be a knitter. Everyone was knitting. I found myself wanting to make a cute little cabled purse and had to teach myself more techniques, using books and magazines (this was pre-YouTube). Since then, I've made countless socks, scarves, stuffed animals, sweaters, gloves, mittens, and, of course, hats.

See, I have a little problem: I love making beautiful hats but I only have one head and so many places to go. I make hats for friends and family. I give many hats to charities every year. I sent hats to anonymous people who marched in the 2017 Women's March - yes, I made some pink pussy hats. It was no problem and my pleasure. They were quick and easy and it was the least I could do, feeling passionately about women's rights but being unable to attend.

Now, I'm offering my hats for sale here. I'm still knitting for friends, family, and those in need, but as long as I can pick up a beautiful skein of bulky yarn and see a gorgeous hat waiting to be knit, I'm going to make a hat.

Behind every DARN hat is over 20 years of experience, quality, and a unique vision. I don't follow published patterns when I create hats; I find a gorgeous cabled or textured pattern in an encyclopedia of knitting stitches and construct my hat using that stitch, from ribbed brim to detailed crown decreases. All DARN hats are classic, with a modern twist. Some are knit in classic, understated colors like grey, off-white and black, and others are knit in trendy brights. Since I don't use published patterns and never make the same hat twice, every DARN hat is guaranteed to be one of a kind. The hats I make under the DARN label are all machine-washable and made of either premium acrylic bulky yarn or an acrylic/nylon/merino bulky mix. Every DARN hat comes with a branded DARN cork tag and care instructions. They're guaranteed to keep you warm and bring joy during the cold months.