Wednesday, December 5, 2012

Advent Giveaway I: More Than a Dozen Hats and Beanies

Ready or not, the holidays are now - without a doubt - upon us.  I've felt no guilt playing my A Winter's Solstice albums on repeat and the stress of finding enough time to do all the shopping and baking I'd like to do has fully set in.

Anyway, for this year's holiday season, I thought I'd do a set of reviews/giveaways in the days leading up to Christmas*.  There are four weeks of Advent and, accordingly, I'll do 4 giveaways - one per week. (Pretty tough math, eh? :) )

This week's giveaway is the extremely well-done More Than a Dozen Hats and Beanies by Cari Hammett (Amazon link here).  As you might guess from the title, this book includes patterns for more than 12 (15 to be exact) different hats, ranging from a very simple rolled-brim beanie to slightly more complicated designs involving lace and colorwork.

What I love most about this book is the basic hat tutorial in its beginning pages.  When I was a fresh, young knitter back in the days before Ravelry I once had some yarn I wanted to make into a hat, but no pattern.  I had no idea where to start...so I knit it flat.  I don't think I have to tell you that it was pretty fugly.  Now, even with the wealth of knowledge on Ravelry, I think any beginner would benefit from this tutorial to get a grasp of the basics of hat construction and knitting in the round.  I think many knitters, beginners included, want to be able to customize their knits, and this tutorial is a great way to learn how to do that with hats.

In addition to that tutorial, the instructions for how to perform the other techniques in the patterns are great.  There are guides for doing short rows, i-cord, pom poms, magic loop, and your usual basics.  Again, perfect for beginners.


And if you already know how to do all of that stuff, there are the 15 hat patterns, with choices for men, women, and kiddos.  They feature several different techniques, crown shaping methods, etc. -- which, again, is nice if you'd like to customize your own cap.  Below are some of my favorites...

The Basic Rolled Brim Hat
 

Slouchy Beanie

Chunky Lace Beanie

Color Brick Stitch

Stocking Cap for Little Ones (you can't see it here, but the pointed stocking cap part hangs down in back -- so cute!)

And Folk Art, which I had to include because I think this model is just way too serious and fancy to be wearing a colorful hat with a gigantic pom pom.

Would you like a copy of this book?  Just leave a comment here telling me what your favorite style of hat is (beanie, slouch, beret, or none at all!) before midnight this coming Sunday (the 9th) and I'll draw a winner that afternoon.

*No need to specifically celebrate Christmas to participate! 

34 comments:

Amy said...

I look best in a chunky hat. Merry Christmas!

Unknown said...

I like them all! Do I really have to choose one style? LOL! I guess if I'm forced to, I'd choose slouch.

Bridget said...

I like slouchy hats, and wear a lot of berets, though not in the true beret style.

I'll have to check out this book, it's new to me!

Sara said...

I love berets/slouchy hats, even though I think I look silly in them. My favorite one I dried on a dinner plate in the oven because I wanted to wear it sooner rather than later.

Ash said...

I only wear hats--beanies--while sporting on the coldest days. My husband prefers beanies year-round. :o)

Ginger said...

I like a beanie, but only when it is seriously cold!

Suzanne said...

I like a beanie when I run but otherwise I prefer a hat with a brim all around the circumference.

Laura said...

I love a good beanie with a little bit of slouch!

MrsZuvers said...

For the purposes of the book in question, beret wins it, but my all time favorite variety of hat: the fedora.

Rachel said...

I pretty much love all hats except berets...I wear hats 2/3 of the year for warmth rather than show and so I haven't quite figured out that style! Of the photos shown, I would jump on knitting Folk Art!

Hind DP said...

The Chunky Lace Beanie looks lovely, and quick. Usually I go for a beanie slyle hat, but wouldn't mind trying a beret.

Kate said...

Slouch!

Janine said...

I think my favorite currently is a slouch. At least that is what I am knitting right now. Janine

BLBlanchard said...

I love the brick style beanie. Classic and warm, beanies are the best :)

nancy said...

Boy, do I need this book! I love the roll-brim hat at the top of your post!

Jessaca said...

Love me a baby in a beanie!

melanie said...

Love slouchy hats ever since I tried them out a few years ago. My poor beanies don't get much wear.

Beth said...

I do love a slouchy hat!

Christine said...

I love a slouchy hat too!

Josiphine said...

My favorite hat is a beanie actually, :)

Chelsea W said...

I have only ever knit one hat so this book would be really helpful for me! I prefer beanies myself. Thanks for the chance :-)

Georgiedean said...

My favorite style is beret.

ZuzanaK said...

Any hat that would fit my children. I don't wear hats myself but they do - and they look really cute in them!

Beverly C. said...

I've never been a wearer of hats - but I just love that rolled-brim one!

Anonymous said...

I'm partial to a beret or tam, but really any hat is good with me. I love hats!

C. said...

I love slouchy hats! There are what fit best on my head. But, for others, I like all kinds of hats. I just knitted the Nola Cloche for a fiend of mine and I'm so sad cloches are not for me, if not I'd knit one for me too.

Kesha E said...

What a wonderful idea. I am particularly fond of the slouch hat. I think they are so young and hip. Thanks for the giveaway!

Trisha R said...

I was JUST telling a co-worker yesterday that I wished I had a signature fashion piece where people would say, "Yup, that's Trisha and she wears knitted hats all the time..." NO KIDDING! Boy, this book sure would help!!

JoannePerrow on ravelry said...

I love them all but if I have to pick one it would probably be the slouch.

Debbolib said...

Thanks for the giveaway! I like slouch hats for myself -- less problem with hat hair. :-)

Jessica said...

I love slouch hats, but that rolled brim hat is pretty fabulous!

Anonymous said...

My favorite kind of hat would actually have to be a cloche. They are just so timelessly chic!

Alicia said...

i particularly love slouchy hats. so cozy.

Anonymous said...

I really like knitting beanie hats....they are so cosy.