For what it's worth, the aforementioned yarn store, which sold us multiple dyelots for that aran project, gave a full refund for all of the yarn, even that which had already been knit/rolled into balls. I understand they were very apologetic as well.

I did not mention their name when I spoke ill of them, and I will not mention it now, lest others take too great advantage of their generosity.

We're going to School Products Thursday to re-select yarn.

I made a hat yesterday.

I tried to use this pattern, which I found a link to on You Knit What?!? I used a bulky, charcoal grey cashmere from School Products, which I had bought for my birthday.

But since I seem to be physically incapable of following simple instructions, I changed a few things.

1. My hats are always 88 stitches. They just are. It makes my life simpler.
2. I don't understand why one would do seed stitch in the round on an even number of stitches, as called for in the pattern, when on an odd number, it's jogless. I did it on an even number for the hat band (see item #1), but switched to an odd number on the earflaps (where technically, it didn't matter, but it appealed to my sense of symmetry).
3. I can't bring myself to put cat ears on this. The stockingette is so smooth and nice. If I want to be irreverent, I'll tie the earflaps on top of my head.

I haven't done the pompons yet on the flap ties. I can't decide if I want to do a pompon on top too.

There's a Devil Hat pattern on the same site. Since I still have a ton of the red cashmere leftover from my entrelac turtleneck sweater, maybe I'll do a hat with horns yet.