I have a thing for hats

. . . and novelty yarn from the dollar store. I don't know what it is. Other people knit lovely, loving, useful socks. Or sweaters. Or scarves or mittens or whatever. I have this fatal attraction to hats. I like to make them. I like to wear them. I like to play with them. When I'm very cold at night, I'll even sleep in one.

A hat is more than just a thermal layer, though that function may come into play occasionally. But a hat is often a statement of occupation. A man who holds many responsibilities is said to wear many hats. Fireman's hat, Policeman's hat, cowboy hat or Green Beret all give instant recognition.

And when it comes to fashion, what accessory beats a hat for flair and drama? A broad-brimmed sun hat is not only practical, it finishes that summer outfit. Tie a scarf around the crown with the ends fluttering in the wind, and the boys won't be able to keep their eyes off you. If you are feeling blue, wear a red hat. Half the men you see will smile at you. If you want to fascinate someone, wear a tiny confection of a few bits of ribbon and a veil, and he won't be able to resist the mystery.

A long face is balanced by a wide brim. A round face needs a high crown. In Australia, at the - is it the Melbourne Cup? - the ladies are wearing bits of millinery called "fascinators" Just some feathers, beads and a cockade of ribbon wired to cling and accent the hairstyle and the damsel's innate beauty. That's what hats are all about, friends. If it doesn't accent your innate beauty, cheer you up, and tell the world who you are, then it's just a thermal layer. Why not wear a hat tomorrow?