Where did this come from?

In the midst of working on a baby blanket, it suddenly flashed into my head to make a hat. Not a baby hat. Not even a hat with the Cotton Tots of the blanket, or something that matches. An adult hat to go with a certain scarf that is sitting here finished, except for the fringe I want to add. I should do the fringe, right? Instead, I NEEEEED to make a hat.

OK. Drop baby blanket and Google "Manos, hat pattern." After two pages of clicking, I can't find a pattern that fits what I have in mind (something garter stitch-ish). I can't find 16" size 8 (the scarf was knit on 24" 8's) or 9 circs, though I know I have at least one of them. I can't find any of the cables for my Crapmaster needles either.

So I pull out some #9 Clover DPNs and start a pattern I found with the first click. It's too holey. But it gives me an idea for one I might like better. So I frog and start over. Only I don't like the number of stitches...or something. I pull it off the needles and try it on before I frog it. It's a little more fitted than I'd like.

So I frog and start over with more stitches. Get several rows into the cuff before realizing the stitch count isn't going to work. Yes, overall it's an even number. Yes, each needle has an even number. But my head says there will be two sections on each needle and those need to be an even number (not 9, as I have). So I frog again.

Then I decide, if I am going to up the stitch count to even the numbers (easiest)...I probably need to go down on the needle size. I really, really want 16" size 8 circs. Really. But I don't want to get cleaned up and go out for some. I poke through my DPNs and discover I have aluminum 8's. Start to cast on and just. can't. do. it. The ick factor of aluminum is too overwhelming.

I KNOW I have 16" circs in 8 or 9. So I start searching everywhere needles might be. All my UFO project bags/baskets/areas. All of Em's UFO project areas. My needle cases. Her needle cases. Places the younger kids might have left needles I attempted to teach them how to knit with. The refrigerator. Under the bathroom sink. Laundry hampers.

This is getting silly. I should just sit down at my computer, print out the latest JoAnn's coupon and head on over there for my needles. So I sit down. And manage to knock my mouse to the floor. As I am reaching to pick it up, the circs hanging from my drawer pull

catch my eye. Especially a short Clover (you can't see it because this is an old pic and really...it wasn't ever there). Which, on closer inspection, I discover is a 16" size 8. WTF? That was the first place I looked, right after the urge to make a hat hit me.