Take a simple hat shape (it's just a rectangle), add a beautiful stitch pattern, play with color and you'll have a quick-to-knit-on-the-machine project!
Hand knitters would be amazed that we can knit this in an afternoon.(ha!)
The gathered top makes the knitting even easier. No ribber? Hand knit the ribbing or hang a hem... you're the designer!
Sometimes machine knitters over- complicate things ... get back to basics and practice the built-in capabilities of your machine. Painless, stranded knitting, 2 color knitting, fairisle.