Hermione's Hats

[Joe]

No: HPFGUIDX 78354

<snip>
But then how are the hats and socks that Hermione is knitting and 
hiding around the Gryffindor 
> common room supposed to free them, since once again the elves would 
> only pick them up themselves?  (Dobby said the elves were annoyed 
> and would not clean the Gryffindor common room, but was it just 
> because someone was trying to trick them?  They weren't in any 
> danger of being freed.)  JKR has made Hermione very brilliant, as 
> her analyses in OOTP repeatedly showed -- so wouldn't Hermione 
think 
> of this simple point too?  What am I missing?
> 
> Robert Jones (aka Boris the Bewildered)

This puzzled me at first.  The best solution I came up with was that 
the hats and socks where GIFTS entitled to be given to the house 
elves.  So that is what would set them free.

The rest of the clothing for the students/teachers where simply that, 
property of the masters.  So handling it wouldn't set them free.  
Only when given as a gift would it do so.

So basically, Hermione was hiding gifts around the room hoping to 
trick the Elves.

The only question I still have on the topic, is if Hermione had the 
power anyhow.  Being that the gift would have to come from the Elves 
master, and although I'm sure the elves listen and respect the 
students, I'm not certain if a student would qualify as its master.  
Being that Dumbledore is Headmaster and the one who hired Dobby.

Hope some of that helps, still curious on my question though..

Joe