Woollen experimentation

Years and years ago my Dad taught me how to knit.  But although I knew about pearl and plain I didn't know anything else and I just forgot about it.  Every so often I'd think 'I really should learn how to knit again', but I'd never do anything about it.
Then (a couple of weeks ago) I decided I wanted a wooly hat, but I couldn't find any I liked and the one I did I can't get in the UK.  And I suddenly thought - I could make one!

Cue my good friend Katie.  We've been friends for a good 10 years and throughout this time she has always been knitting.  What I like best about Katie's knitting is that while she can and does read patterns, she is happy to try out her ideas without a pattern (her llamas are amazing).  This is my sort of creating.  So over she came for the afternoon, and once we had some wool and some needles we got started.  So far I'm just practicing but if you look (hard) at the above photo you can see the start of some ribs.
This is going to take time and practice and as yet I'm not sure how I'm going to finish it, but I know that Katie will be there ready to help when I need it.  That is, after all, what good friends are all about - I hope I can repay the favour some time.