| Hattitude Knits for Every Mood |
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| Written by Barbara Rottman | |||
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Title: Hattitude Knits for Every Mood
Hattitude is a collection of hats for “every mood.” Believing that “the hat makes the woman, and the woman makes the hat”, Cathy Carron designed a series of hats that employ color, shape, texture and detailing to fit every mood. Just as there are hats for all skill levels, from beginner to expert, there are hats for every mood, from austere to theatrical.
What Yarns does it Feature? Cathy Carron uses all weights and textures of yarn, from silky smooth 2-ply Mongolian Cashmere to pumped-up super chunky marvels. A few designs use more than one yarn for contrasting brims or crowns, but the designer does not mix or fuse yarns to achieve these stunning effects. All models were knit with commercially available yarns, which you can use to get the same results. Color often sets mood, so these hats are designed with color in mind. Color is as key to these designs as is the choice of fiber, weight, and texture of the yarn.
What’s Inside? Inside you’ll find 40 hats with attitude, style and shape sized medium to large. Sedate and brassy knitters alike will find the right style for them. Don’t bother adapting these designs for the guys in your life; these hats are strictly for girls. Each of the hats is aptly named by the mood it suggests. A few of the most intriguing hat names include poetic, nostalgic, romantic, aloof, haughty, vivacious, joyful, jaunty and determined. Whether you trend toward one disposition or a flurry of moods, you’ll find several hats to suit you and those you knit for. You can’t help but enjoy the playfulness of the concept and the expressive nature of this knitting.
Using It Each style is shown in a full page photograph, accompanied by the pattern on the facing page. Written in a standard format, the instructions are concise and clear. The spacious layout design is presented a compact format (8 ½” X 8 ½”), resulting in some rather small print, and you may find yourself squinting. The hats are quite simple to knit and only one (the Fair Isle) is accompanied by a chart, but you’ll need to keep this book (and possibly your readers) close by your side in order to read the directions.
Wherever possible, the hats are knit from the top or crown down. The designer starts with a few stitches on double pointed needles, increases to head size, works down to the brim, where the stitches are cast off. The author doesn’t discuss her reasons for choosing this non-standard construction method. Why for example, would does she choose to start literary, the floppy toque, at the top? Like the knitters who prefer toe-up socks for better fit, Cathy Carron may favor this method for ease of trying on the hat. Since she is silent on her reasons, we are left to guess. The appendix has a helpful section on the anatomy of a hat, measuring for fit, and sizing to fit. There is a list of yarn manufacturers, but no guidance on yarn substitution should any of these yarns be unavailable. The materials list details fiber content, yardage, and quantities required, but doesn’t classify the yarn by weight, which would be helpful. Some very adventurous knitters will likely be drawn to this book. These knitters won’t hesitate to experiment with yarn substitution or combining different materials. General direction on yarn substitutions should be included.
Best Pattern (or Best Advice) The art direction for this book deserves applause. The author acknowledges Joe Vior for his “keen art direction, color sense and sense of humor.” The book is a visual treat. Every hat is intended to represent a mood. Cathy Carron carefully considered color, texture, style and shape in the design of all 40 hats. The art director arranged this jumble of color, shape and style into a pleasing format using color, typeface, and juxtaposition to suggest the appropriate mood.
Recommendation Depending on your attitude, you will love every hat in this book. For a wide array of sophisticated hat concepts, add Hattitutde to your knitting library. Overall Recommendation Hattitude rates #6 -- there are hats from traditional to stylish to daring. Make one to fit your every look and mood.
Where to buy Hattitude Knits for Every Mood by Cathy Carron: Yarnmarket.com
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