Knit Hats with Woolly Wormhead: Styles for the Whole Family

by Woolly Wormhead

Overview

International hat-knitting icon Woolly Wormhead is known for her unique, innovative hat designs and is followed the world over by avid fans. This collection of her work includes patterns for 22 of her designs: 12 patterns for women, 5 men’s designs, and 5 hats for kids. The special elements in her designs—such as cables, textures, and colorwork—mixed with the “how'd she do that” types of construction she is famous for, are what set her designs apart and make them extra-fun to knit.

In this book, Woolly also gives plenty of hat-knitting tips, as well as helpful hints on how to choose your most flattering hat style. Grab some gorgeous yarn, choose a favorite hat pattern, and cast on!

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780811739672
Publisher:	Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc.
Publication date:	08/01/2021
Pages:	136
Sales rank:	380,281
Product dimensions:	8.30(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.50(d)

About the Author

Woolly Wormhead is the best-known knit hat designer in the world. She resides in the UK and was the 2018 British Craft Awards Knitting Designer of the Year, and has published many patterns in publications across the globe.

Table of Contents

For Her

Infilare 10

Interconnected 14

Azula 18

Klastar 22

Joyce 26

Scourie 32

Corella 36

Dutrieu 42

Skelter 46

Floralys 50

Tangled River 54

Erica 58

For Him

Staggered 66

Northend 72

Chevron 76

Turbine 80

Ledger Beanie 84

For Kids

Incatenato 90

Torsione 96

Wychavon 100

Kilbride 104

Selkie 108

The Basics

The Right Size 114

The Right Hat for Every Head 115

How Much Ease? 115

One Size Doesn't Fit All! 116

Not Too Tight! 116

The Thing with Hair 117

Where to Wear Your Hat 117

Hats and Glasses 118

It's All a Question of Balance 118

Abbreviations 119

Kitchener Stitch Grafting in Garter Stitch 120

German Short Rows in Garter Stitch 122

Provisional Cast-On 124

Two-Color Kitchener Stitch Grafting in Garter Stitch 126

Pattern Charts 128

Yarn Sources 134

About the Author 135

Editorial Reviews

08/02/2021

“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. (Aug.)

Publishers Weekly

If you want to knit a plain, ribbed beanie, read on. While there are hats contained in these pages that could pass for the same clever Staggered And Ledger beanies to wit, nonconformance is more Woolly Wormhead's game. Rather than plop a new cable on a tried-and-true shape, Woolly is more interested in the sculptural and engineering possibilities of hats. Evoking both the past and the future, these 22 hat patterns - 12 for women and five for men, which could all be unisex, and five for kids - represent adventures in construction, stitches, color and fashion while also keeping heads warm and toasty.

Take the delightful, swirly Torsione that culminates with five points at the crown, or Skelter with its traveling stitches, split back with a garter-stitch brim, or the adorable kid cap called Selkie, which has stripes, earflaps with points, and an elven, futuristic vibe.

Though she calls herself a "hat architect," she is also a wizard, allowing the wearers of her creations to spin new narratives about themselves simply by changing their headwear. If you put on a cloche, are you Daisy Buchanan? And what about a brimmed cap? Is it suddenly 1972? Yes, but winking all the while.

Vogue Knitting - Leslie Petrovski

NetGalley Review: 4 stars

Updated 01 Apr 2021

"I really appreciated the volume and variety of projects in this book. There are projects for every skill level. They are modern and fresh. I want to knit many of these. I love the authors added insight on fit and picking certain patterns based on how you would wear the hat, what face shape, etc.

Much detail and photos were added for more difficult techniques (ex. german short rows, provisional cast on) Saves from having to go google them.

"My two complaints are:

1) Why are there separate categories for women's hats and men's hats. Most of the hats in the book could be for either gender, and I find it really disheartening that patterns are still being gendered. Think outside the box. Many of the "womens" hats would do well on a man. And there were actually only a few mens designs included anyhow.

2) This is a book about hats. With all the detail added, I feel a picture or two, of how to properly measure your head for determining what size hat to make. As well as a chart of common head sizes (toddler, child, teen, adult) if you a making a gift."

— Cindy Jensen, Librarian at Waunakee Public Library

NetGalley Review: 5 stars

Updated 31 Mar 2021

"Woolly Wormhead does it again!

"This pattern book is full of hat patterns that you could never find anywhere else. No other designer has Woolly's eye for the unusual. Like to knit flat? No problem, you can knit a short row hat sideways. Prefer a soft slouch? It's here. Earflaps? Sure, why not. Most of these patterns would be ranked intermediate, but there are some that are quite simple. Whatever your preference, there's something for everyone here.

"The patterns are well-organized, well-written, and there are plenty of photos and easy charts. My only complaint is that some of the abbreviations had me looking in the glossary, and I'm no newbie. Fortunately, the explanations are clear and easy to find. Personally, I found that the hats run small. I don't have an exceptionally big head, but I always knitted the largest size when testing these.

"All of these patterns can be purchased individually on Ravelry, but I highly recommend getting the book. If you're a fan of handknit hats, you'll need this in your library.

"Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for providing a copy of this ebook in exchange for my honest review."

— Sarah Czarnecki, Reviewer at Jam-Packed Bookshelf

NetGalley Review: 5 stars

Updated 29 Mar 2021

"I am so excited about this book. Wooly Wormhead’s hat patterns are my favorites so of course I jumped at the chance to take a peak of this book. The photographs are beautiful and patterns well written. I’m already planning on casting on soon!"

— Samantha Williams, Reviewer at Yarn Reader Youtube channel

From the Publisher

09/24/2021

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

Library Journal