104 of 108 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
disappointed, November 21, 2009
This review is from: Hattitude: Knits for Every Mood (Paperback)
I knit lots of hats. I like playing around with yarns and colors and patterns. Sometimes things work, sometimes they don't.
I have a copy of Carron's earlier book, "Hip Knit Hats" and like it very much. So, I ordered a copy of "hattitudes" sight unseen. Oh, I looked at the cover illustration and saw a couple of promising hats there. I was very disappointed when I got the book. I would not have bought it if I'd seen it first. However, I read the rave reviews here and decided to go back to "hattitudes" and see if my attitude would change. It didn't really.
Why? Over half of the 41 patterns are for hats knit with bulky or super bulky yarns - #5 or #6 in the standard yarn weight system. (As far as I could tell, many of the needle sizes and stitch gauges don't match the standard guidelines.) I find hats knit with #6 yarns to be too heavy and uncomfortable. Hats done with #5 are better but I have enough of those patterns from "Hip Knit Hats" and other sources. My preference is for hats made from #4, or sometimes even #3 yarns. Most of my hats go to people who are going to stuff them into a coat pocket or back pack, not store them on a shelf. I'm not much interested in hats that tie under the chin, head bands, headscarves, or hats with beads, discs etc.
I would not expect Carron to repeat the basic knitting info from HKH but it would be useful to have the table of yarn weights, needle sizes, and gauges. In HKH for each pattern she told the weight of the yarn along with the name, manufacturer, etc. This is useful info for those of us adapting patterns to different yarns and I wish she had done that in this book too.
I ignored the attitude gimmick although maybe the faces some of the models were making put me off too. I didn't like seeing several of the patterns continued to the back of the book. A better design would put all the instructions on one page or facing pages; this is more usable.
Someday I'll probably try some of the patterns - a beret, the floppy toque - and maybe the eyelet cap adapted for a different yarn. But three or four patterns are not enough for me to justify buying a book.
This is not the book for me, but if you like bulky hats this may be the book for you. If you don't have "Hip Knit Hats" I'd recommend it over "hattitude".
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36 of 38 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
for hat lovers, or those who knit a lot of hats for hat lovers, November 4, 2009
This review is from: Hattitude: Knits for Every Mood (Paperback)
Wow at first sight.
First, it's for hat lovers, or those who knit a lot of hats for hat lovers.
And, if you're new to knitting (or hat knitting), it may overwhelm...
Not saying these are difficult, as they're not - but I wouldn't knit my first hat from this book. (Although, it could provide inspiration to get you knitting a couple of basic hats, and motivate you to try cables, and a few stitch patterns.)
OK, the cover says it all - every hat on the cover is in the book - 40 in all (the cover shows 42 photos, but 2 are repeats).
2 of these are very wide headbands that don't quite cover the crown, but fun and interesting and worthwhile, and on my list.
And there is 1 that is more of a lightweight, triangular scarf that's tied in back (kerchief), but the rest are hats (cap, beret, cloche, bonnet, earmuff, beanie, toque, pillbox, helmet, tam).
Lots of eye-candy and even more inspiration.
For instance, "haughty" has you knitting a tube at the crown (rather than binding off), and then it's threaded thru a buckle and sewn to the hat - wear it with that detail on either side, or front or back - that's up to you.
"theatrical" is an asymmetrical beret that uses size 9 needles - and "aloof" is another beret, but a different pattern, that uses size 2 needles to achieve a softer, floppier look which is less structured than "theatrical".
2 of the patterns are felted (fulled) - "idealistic" and "joyful" - but otherwise completely different from each other.
"SKEPTICAL" is a cap with a visor, and an interesting stitch pattern...
Well, most of these hats are knitted with interesting stitch patterns and/or interesting yarns (meaning weight and texture and colors) to achieve the various looks.
"flirtatious" uses "paillettes with large holes", but it could be altered for beads or buttons.
"high-spirited" is an interesting cap knitted in seed stitch, with an opening in the back for a ponytail.
Yes, I love those hats and more.
No, not every hat in this book is for me (or anyone I currently knit for - like "rebellious" and "austere" - altho it's possible that one of my nieces may feel differently...).
But, those that I don't plan on knitting are, maybe... 8 to 10, at most...
Well, that still leaves at least 30 that I plan to have fun with !
One thing that you may find relevant - I am not a knitter who has to have the yarn that is given in the pattern. I use yarns that I choose... so, it may change the appearance, but that's my choice... I pick a hat that I like and then adjust gauge/pattern accordingly.
But, the yarns and their details and gauges are given (classic elite, plymouth, patons, tahki-stacey charles, blue sky, berroco, rowan, lion brand, etc) - fairly standard, and therefore should be easily obtainable (in my opinion - of course we know that yarns and colors etc are always changing).
I have several hat books, but this is the first one to really excite me - the first one to have so many choices and so much inspiration !
I hope my take on this book helps you make your decision (frankly, if you're a hat person, and don't like this book, I look forward to hearing why...).
(And, I have no affiliation with this, or any other book - just my opinions.)
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32 of 36 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Hattitude with Attitude, October 13, 2009
This review is from: Hattitude: Knits for Every Mood (Paperback)
I just received my copy of 'Hattitude' today. What a delicious book it is. There are fun hats, warm hats, hats for the beginning knitter and hats for the more experienced knitter. All of the hats are for women but some are easily adaptable for men.
I especially like the two-tone Asymmetrical Beret in a light green with a dark green border. It's made from Classic Elite Montera and I know I have some in my stash. The Basketweave Hat is easy enough for a beginner to try (with a little help). It's one of the hats that can be knit up for men or women. The Cable-Edged Kerchief is quite unique and looks like fun to knit in Cashsoft Aran by Rowan. One of my favorites is the Cashmere Beret - that's right folks, cashmere. Just the thought of a hat knit in Jade Sapphire Cashmere caressing my face makes me happy. It's knit in a luscious blue with a "super-wide twisted rib band" and a "floppier seed stitch crown". It looks retro and contemporary at the same time. The Fair Isle Stocking Cap is one of the more fun hats in the book. It has a lot of color and even has a pom-pom. I especially like the "quirky flaps". The Cabled Pom-Pom Hat looks like it will keep me warm during the Alaskan winter. It calls for Glitterspun by Lion Brand yarn but any bulky yarn can be substituted if the gauge is right. The Tassled Ski Hat is described as "zen inspired". It's knit primarily with the linen stitch which gives the hat a woven-like texture. It calls for Lambs Pride Bulky, one of my favorite yarns.
There's a hat in this book for everyone and at every knitting level. I can't wait to get started on a couple of the patterns. As usual, I ask myself these questions when I purchase a knitting book?
Does the book include patterns that I like?
Are the patterns easy to interpret?
Can I use this book as a resource?
The answer to all three questions is a resounding 'Yes'. Happy knitting!
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