that one in the hat, that's me

Oh, Christmas hat, you thwart me so. I managed to track down a tape measure, finish the hat with exactly enough yarn left to seam it, realize that the reason it looked so funny was that I had somehow forgotten to bind the damn thing off, undo a row, bind off, this time with not enough yarn left to seam it, find a reasonably close enough yarn to seam the side and top, weave in all the ends, make two tassles of contrasting yarn, finish the whole damn thing, stick it on my head and decide it is the dumbest hat ever.

Now, here is the thing:

From a knitting point of view, The Hat is a total success - it looks exactly like the picture in the book. Unfortunately, sometimes pictures lie. When you finally meet The Hat in person, it's a dorky hat. It just is. I am not sure what to do about it. This hat turned out exactly as my friend asked for, and maybe on her head it will take on some fabulous attractive qualities it just doesn't possess when it's on mine. Maybe it is my head that is less than perfect, and The Hat just needs a head more capable of pulling off it's daring charm. Maybe my friend realizes the full dorky qualities of the hat, but still wanted it regardless, since most winter hats are totally dorky - so why not go all the way? Maybe there will be some miracle in the blocking that will cause this abomination to dry into the perfect confection it is meant to be.

Or maybe it is just a really stupid hat.

So do I give her the stupid hat? What if she never wears it and I am hurt, causing a rift in our 28 year friendship? What if she thinks I think that this is the type of hat she deserves, that in effect I think she is a dork, worthy of only the stupidest of headgear? What if this causes a simmering resentment that will never be overcome? What if she really loves The Hat and yet it doesn't love her back and people point and laugh behind her back when she is wearing it? Am I contractually obliged to be seen in public with The Hat? What if she loves it so much she tells everyone I knit it for her and I get the rep as the girl who makes stupid hats? What is a girl to do?!