Knit Hats with Woolly Wormhead

August 2, 2021
“There really is a hat out there for everyone,” writes Wormhead (Twisted Woolly Toppers), the 2018 British Craft Awards knitting designer of the year, in this unique collection. To accomplish Wormwood’s designs, knitters will need to know, among other techniques, how to make twisted stitches, live stitches, and short rows (a more advanced skill). The author includes many elaborate hat designs that require a fair amount of time and attention to complete, including the flame-patterned “Azula,” the floral “Klastar,” and the striped and spiked “Torsione.” Each pattern lists the skills required and the stitches/abbreviations used, while sidebars with hints specific to each project appear throughout. Must-read sections at the end include an explanation of ease (a term that describes a garment’s size in relation to a person’s body), a disavowal of the notion that hats are “one size fits all,” and a breakdown of how to make hats fit without being too tight. Indeed, readers will wish these instructional sections came before the projects rather than after. While newbies will be quickly overwhelmed, seasoned crafters will delight in these intricate patterns.

September 24, 2021

Wormhead, a 2018 British Craft Awards knitting designer of the year, presents 22 hat projects (12 designated for women, five for men, and five for children). Each pattern is covered with a written and a charted design with a summary of the skills and materials required, abbreviation guides, and hints for specific techniques. The designs are colorful and unique and require intermediate skills, time, and patience. The author provides step-by-step instructions on executing specific challenges like kitchener stitch grafting in garter stitch, provisional cast-ons, German short rows, and two-color kitchener stitches, as well as many other techniques. Also included are sections on how to measure the head for hat sizing, choosing flattering styles, working with hair, and tips for wearing hats with glasses. VERDICT The book is sure to inspire the knitter with innovative, detailed, and well-executed designs.--Phillip Oliver, formerly at Univ. of North Alabama, Florence

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