Ages ago I bought a ball of horrible cheap acrylic yarn from a street market because it was bright orange and I wanted to make a beanie hat from it.
‘Wanted’ might not be the right word but, around these parts, you need to be on the look out for hunters. They are forever shooting each other by accident and I don’t want them to shoot me when I’m out walking my dogs so an orange hat is what’s needed.
I kept putting it off as a bright orange beanie hat is definitely nowhere on my list of desirable fashion accessories but the other day I pulled that yukky yarn out and crocheted a quick and not very attractive hat which will not serve to make me look very chic but will, hopefully, keep me from getting my head blown off.
I blocked it in an effort to improve upon it
*shudder*
I was going leave it looking like a hideous orange flower pot but Scraphappy Day was fast approaching and I hadn’t had time to do anything for it this month and I do like to join in if I can.
So, I had some of the yukky yarn left and in a leap of faith which some of you might think was a leap too far I considered I could call it scrap.
I decided to make a pompom.
So, I still hate it and hope I don’t see anybody when I’m up in the woods with the dogs but at least – as tenuous as it might be – I got something in for Scraphappy Day and, more importantly, shouldn’t get mistaken for a wild boar .
Should I?
Scraphappy Day is organised by Kate & Gun for anybody who wants to make new things from scraps of any kind – doesn’t have to be fabric or yarn. Here’s a list of participants – both regular and occasional – if you want to have a look at the sort of things you can do with scraps.
Contact Kate (first name on the list) if you want to join in.
Kate , Gun, Titti, Heléne, Eva, Sue, Nanette, Lynn(me), Lynda,
Birthe, Turid, Susan, Cathy, Debbierose, Tracy, Jill, Claire, Jan,
Moira, Sandra, Linda, Chris, Nancy, Alys, Kerry, Claire, Jean,
Joanne, Jon, Hayley, Dawn, Gwen, Connie, Bekki, Pauline and Sue L.
Tialys 
#1 by nanacathy2 on November 15, 2019 - 10:10
Persoanlly I would never have mistaken you for a wild boar, and now even French hunters can’t! Who knows you may be the start of a fashion trend.
#2 by tialys on November 15, 2019 - 12:30
Maybe I’ll receive lots of requests from the hunters to make pompoms for the tops of their orange caps.
#3 by M. L. Kappa on November 15, 2019 - 10:16
On the contrary I think you look very cutting-edge or avant garde, and you could further the look with a hi viz vest🤣
#4 by tialys on November 15, 2019 - 12:29
Ooh, well that would be a bit of a political statement in France at the moment.🤨 I’d better not go down that road.
#5 by M. L. Kappa on November 16, 2019 - 13:35
You can start a ‘bonnet orange’ movement 🤣🤣🤣
#6 by tialys on November 17, 2019 - 10:23
Haha!
#7 by Wild Daffodil on November 15, 2019 - 10:23
I think you need a scarf and mittens as well – Oh and leg-warmers! Love the way you took that photo.
#8 by tialys on November 15, 2019 - 12:27
Do you now? – well, luckily, I haven’t got enough orange yarn left to make anything other than another pompom so you won’t be able to have a good laugh at me in bright orange legwarmers, sorry to disappoint. 😉
#9 by katechiconi on November 15, 2019 - 12:09
Oooer, it is a bit, um, vivid, isn’t it? Could you tone it down with another pompom in black and maybe some black leaf shapes or something? It’ll never be chic but it could at least look like a clever ironic anti-fashion statement and less like Personal Protection Equipment. And yes, I think we’ll have to qualify this one as scrap or that orange might keep coming back….
#10 by tialys on November 15, 2019 - 12:26
Black leaves?? Are you trying to get me shot?
Vivid is the idea I suppose and, don’t worry, the only people who will see me are the extremely rare case of another dog walker. I usually try to avoid going up too far if it’s a hunting day but some ‘go rogue’ and don’t stick to the days so it’s just a precaution really. My dogs wear fluo orange (Stan) and fluo pink (Flo) harnesses so hopefully they are safe and, anyway, they are usually on the lead.
#11 by katechiconi on November 15, 2019 - 16:55
I’m considering making Mouse a hi-vis harness and lead for walkies in the darkish early morning once the season turns. I have a large reel of orange tape with a reflective strip down it. For us, the hazard is testosterone merchants screeching round corners on two wheels in powerful utes, rather than hunters…
#12 by tialys on November 15, 2019 - 17:47
Good idea – a black dog is not very visible at all in the dark. I’ve had a few scares lately in the car when I’ve only just in time spotted people wearing dark clothing crossing the road. Do you remember the old safety campaign that used to be on T.V. in the U.K. – ‘Wear Something Light At Night’.
#13 by katechiconi on November 15, 2019 - 18:54
I do, and it absolutely makes a difference in the country, with very little lighting.
#14 by Laurie Graves on November 15, 2019 - 15:22
Oh, too funny! No one will mistake you for a wild boar. Actually, that pompom gives the hat a jaunty look that almost transcends that, ahem, bright orange. As for hunters…we have the same problem in Maine right now. Out in the woods they are, looking for deer to kill. Hate this time of year and am always glad when its over. We live in the woods, and when we work in our backyard, we have to wear bright colors.
#15 by tialys on November 15, 2019 - 17:54
I hate hunting season. They cross over the top of our land with their dogs and send our dogs into a frenzy. Not so much now, as a lot of the hunting dogs are fitted with GPS thingamyjigs, but they used to leave the dogs behind if they didn’t come back in time and so the poor hound would wander around all night long with the bell round its neck jingling away and, once again, sending our own dogs crazy. Roll on February.
#16 by Laurie Graves on November 15, 2019 - 19:46
Oh, my! Leaving a dog behind? What the heck!
#17 by Lynda on November 15, 2019 - 16:41
We have lots of hunters in our area too. But, not too near to where we live so I don’t have to worry. When we owned the mountain property I had purchased two of the nasty, neon orange caps. One for Bob and one for me. Let me tell you, your hat is a fashion accessory when compared to those ill fitting ones we wore!
#18 by tialys on November 15, 2019 - 17:50
Yes, I think I prefer the woolly hat to a baseball cap thingy – warmer too!
#19 by claire93 on November 15, 2019 - 17:24
lol, Lynn, if you’re like me, you can get away with almost anything being an English woman living in France as the French think all Brits are eccentric so nothing we do surprises them. My huasband bought me an XXXL sized orange & camouflage fleece jacket a few years ago from Decathlon, in the hunting section. His excuse: he didn’t want me being mistaken for a wild boar while walking the dog . . . but I let the husband wear it and am happy to wear my plain bright red fleece instead!
#20 by tialys on November 15, 2019 - 17:49
Why an XXXL size? Were you supposed to tuck the dog in there with you too? 🤣
#21 by claire93 on November 15, 2019 - 18:13
I think the intention was to wear it as an overcoat with at least 3 sweaters underneath . . . or maybe the husband was just waiting for him to let him wear it?
#22 by claire93 on November 15, 2019 - 18:13
* that was “for me to let him wear it”
#23 by The Snail of Happiness on November 15, 2019 - 18:51
It looks like it should do the job – which is the important thing here
#24 by thecontentedcrafter on November 15, 2019 - 19:24
Tres hunting chic! (Sorry don’t know the French term for hunting) I see nothing wrong with a bit of brilliant orange, especially if it keeps your head on your shoulders. It’s just the acrylic bit I don’t care for.
#25 by magpiesue on November 15, 2019 - 20:01
Nothing like acrylic yarn to make orange even more visible! Personally, I think it’s quite a cute safety accessory. The pom pom makes it. And orange muffler would set it off nicely, don’t you think? But again, there’s the matter of acrylic yarn next to the skin… yuck.
#26 by tialys on November 16, 2019 - 08:57
And this is the cheapest of cheap acrylic yarn – but it was the right orange. At least it’s going over the top of my hair and won’t touch my skin.
#27 by Dartmoor Yarns on November 15, 2019 - 20:06
Mmmm, I’m definitely one for bending the rules, but this may be a bend too far. As for getting shot, I’d have gone for a flack jacket – that hat’s not going to stop any bullets. In fact it might make you a better target.
#28 by tialys on November 16, 2019 - 08:56
Well, if I hadn’t made a pompom from it, it would have gone in the bin (or used as stuffing or something) so it was definitely ‘going to be’ scrap. It won’t stop a bullet but it might make me think I’m one of them as they all wear orange hats and vests – mind you, that doesn’t always stop them shooting each other on a fairly regular basis.
#29 by Dartmoor Yarns on November 16, 2019 - 11:18
I’m still not convinced young lady.
Sounds delightful in you neck of the woods 🙂
#30 by kathyreeves on November 15, 2019 - 20:38
That hat is exactly what you need this time of year!
#31 by tialys on November 16, 2019 - 08:58
Sometimes you just have to put fashion sense aside.
#32 by nottaholiday on November 16, 2019 - 05:52
Perhaps a couple of white flags protruding from the pompom…channel Elmer Fudd and Bugs Bunny?
We have a friend who prides himself on his hideous and decrepit knitted beanie collection and takes great delight in looking like a downtrodden hobo.
#33 by tialys on November 16, 2019 - 08:58
*White flags* 🤣
#34 by Born To Organize on November 16, 2019 - 19:38
My gosh, Lynn. As always you make me smile and laugh and admire your terrific writing style. I’m taken aback by the potential for a shot through the head, however, and I’m wondering if your dogs need tacky, orange acrylic coats as well. It’s nice to know that even orange yarn has its place. The pompom is a delightful entry into scraphappy and that photo of you is priceless.
#35 by tialys on November 17, 2019 - 10:23
The dogs have harnesses which are in fluo colours – Stan has an orange one and Flo has a pink one. We should all be safe now I think.
#36 by Born To Organize on December 1, 2019 - 16:20
Excellent to hear.
#37 by CurlsnSkirls on November 16, 2019 - 20:46
I’ve some lovely cotton knit in bright orange, the remainder of my first Renfrew, still being worn (right now!). Would make a wide scarf to toss over your shoulder. . . 😘 🤣 😂
#38 by tialys on November 17, 2019 - 10:22
I do love a Renfrew.
#39 by Steph on November 17, 2019 - 01:09
LOL!
Stuff you hate is most certainly scrap.
#40 by tialys on November 17, 2019 - 10:17
Well, there’s a thought.