Each year of my life, the amount of time contained in that year seems to get shorter and shorter.

My youngest son has explained to me why this happens. Part of it he tells me is that I am making fewer connections and remembering things more as pre-organized chunks. The other is that as a unit, each year is an increasingly smaller percentage of my life.

Whatever the reason, be it perception, reality, or something in between, the years have begun to speed by at an alarming rate, and this year was no exception.

And with the ensuing new year looming on the horizon, it is hard not to think of all of the changes that have occurred in the past year. People who seemed to be an immutable part of my life, gone. Things changed that can’t be changed back, and from all of that the inexorable movement forward.

I can move on or get left behind. I am very thankful that however imperfectly, I can still move forward.

For me, Thanksgiving marks the time of year when I am most likely to try my hand at a new crochet hat pattern. My ears are particularly sensitive to a cold wind blowing, and so when the weather begins its march toward winter, I am ready with my hook and my yarn to do what I can to provide myself a bit of a crochet buffer between my head and the world around me, and so tonight, I have a round up of three of my favorite free crochet hat patterns that I have made, and a new one that I want to try.

One of my favorite’s is Beth Hall’s Crochet Seafarer’s cap:

I have made it at least a dozen times, and every time is just as fun as the first. It does not work up super quickly, but if you live where it is cold, and a hat is not just a fashion accessory, then this is one of the best patterns there is. The ribbed stitches are very dense, and so it not only stays on your head, it doesn’t let any wind get in your ears.

Another hat I have enjoyed crocheting is Jenna Wingate’s Scrap-Busters hat:

While not quite as warm as the seafaref’s cap, it is perfect for a cold day without a lot of wind. The weight of the braid really helps to keep it on your head, and it is a lot of fun to both make and wear.

A third hat I have enjoyed making is Kate Steinke’s slouchy crochet beanie:

It works up quickly, and while not as warm as the seafarer’s cap it is warm enough for many winter conditions.

As for my next crochet hat adventure (once I finish this very pink cloche), I am looking to get my hook into Barbara Summers Beehive Beanie (a free download at Ravely)which has a ruffley texture that looks like it would a a lot of fun to make and wear.

In the meantime, I will continue to do the best crochet I can, one stitch at a time.