Searching for the perfect men's headwear

I really enjoy knitting hats and I love finding exciting hat patterns that I've never tried. It's easy to find hat patterns for women, but I find it more difficult to find good hat patterns for men. And I have a number of guy friends who appreciate a hat handout every now and then.

Guys typically like more muted colors and they're definitely not into the lacy look. I recently found some patterns that are perfect for guys. And hey, if you change the color of the yarn, I think even the girls will like these. It does help that both were designed by men who knit.

The Koolhaas Hat is by Jared Flood (aka Brooklyn Tweed). I always admire Jared's patterns and this hat has been in my queue since it was first published in an Interweave Knits Magazine a couple of years ago. Since I now know how to cable without a cable needle, I picked the pattern up and it seemed like much less fuss to make all those 1 stitch twists. I love it! Think of all the different colors you could knit this in to suit anyone you know! I used the Manos Rittenhouse Merino.

The Botanic Hat is by Stephen West (aka Westknits). This hat is reversible so you can decide if you're feeling more bold or just wanting to keep your head warm with simple stripes. Again, I used Manos Rittenhouse Merino. Here's a happy friend wearing it:And the reversible version:I have plans for another Botanic Hat in more solid colors using Malabrigo Worsted but in the meantime I've been distracted by another of Westknits' designs... I cast on for Windschief with the beautiful sunset color of Malabrigo Rios.

Scarves & Stripes

Since I've been working on sweater knitting at home I have another project that goes with me wherever I roam these days to keep me busy. One day last week, it was so pretty out that I stopped along the way to sit and do some outdoor knitting. Even the cows showed an interest! This is a 1x1 ribbed scarf in two colors of Noro Silk Garden. I've been getting lots of compliments on it as I knit. I have a feeling I will be getting requests for this and I think it will make a stunning gift for some of my friends. There are so many color combinations to explore for this one! If you're looking for more information on this project check out Jared Flood's blog.

Surprise!

This is a bit dated, but still fun to see!

Just before Christmas we had a surprise visitor to the shop. Jessica S. stopped in with her family to check out the Classic Elite pattern booklet Made In Brooklyn. She had a good reason for wanting to see it... she's friends with the designer, Jared Flood (Brooklyntweed), and she was a model in the photographs for the pattern booklet!

Here she is in the shop with one of her photos!

Turn a Square for Jogless Stripes!

I'm always looking for another excuse to knit a hat. This one gave me a chance to learn a quick and easy new technique that I am now in love with - jogless stripes.

When you knit in the round in stripes, it leaves a jog along the beginning of the round where you change colors. There is a technique to eliminating this column of pesky (to those of us who like symmetry) little unmatched rows.

I used a free pattern from Jared Flood called the Turn a Square Hat. The pattern includes a very easy method for eliminating the jog in the stripes for this hat. Check it out!

The hat turned out great. I used contrasting colors of Noro Silk Garden and matches our striped Noro scarf (another idea from brooklyntweed). I admit, I decreased the number of cast on stitches so that when I blocked my hat it wouldn't get too large for me. The Noro Silk Garden grows a fair amount if you wet block it and I can wear most kids hats...so this one fits me.

I made a second one with Noro Silk Garden and a contrasting solid color of Berroco Blackstone Tweed that follows the pattern exactly - that one will go to a friend with more hair and a larger dome!

Rising from the Flood

I finished a new hat a couple of weeks ago and I loved knitting it. I used Rowan Cocoon for its amazingly soft texture. I love the silvery strands of mohair in the colors. Just my thing for a new fall wardrobe addition! The hat is the Quincy pattern in Jared Flood's (brooklyntweed) new pattern booklet, Made in Brooklyn from Classic Elite. I really like brooklyntweed's designs although I haven't knit as many of them as I'd like. I picked this pattern out because of its unique construction technique to give a hat a new 'twist.' The bottom portion of this hat uses a provisional cast on. It is knit flat with an I-cord edging, and then twisted before you graft (kitchener stitch) the band together. Once you've completed that portion stitches are picked up around the top edgings of the twist to create the hat's crown. It is very comfy and looks great!

Barb made one up for the shop, and one of my friends already made off with my hat. So now I'm going to have to make another one for myself!

Project Recap

Temps are falling fast and stitches are apparently flying. There is a lot of knitting going on around here. Polly finished a vest for her son from the Queensland Collection Book 9. She used Manos del Uruguay Silk Blend - isn't it gorgeous?

Shawn finished an afghan for some friends recently. It's so cool - she used 8 colors of Berroco Vintage Wool (2 skeins each.) We're going to have this pattern available soon. The size is perfect, and it's a really easy knit.

Yvonne K. brought in her vest in Noro Kureyon, from Designer Mini Knits. So cute!

Barb and Shawn have each cranked out a Quincy hat from the new Jared Flood booklet, Made in Brooklyn. They both used Rowan Cocoon which is becoming one of our most sought after bulky yarns.

A few completed items!

Today we got a package from Karen (aka Choochooknits), one of our sample knitters from New Jersey. She finished the Seneca sweater from Jared Flood's Made in Brooklyn.

Seriously folks, this is a super yummy sweater. Not only is the design gorgeous, but the yarn... WOW!!! It's Classic Elite Lush and it's soft, fuzzy and scrumptious. We put it right on the mannequin and it made for a good laugh. See, our mannequin is a bit difficult to dress. You have to remove both arms in order to get a pullover onto her, and to remove the arms you have to twist them backwards and over her head. Anyway, I tried for several minutes to remove her arms but had no luck. I did manage to knock her off her stand and she practically fell over. Michele rushed over to help me, and at that exact moment, about 5 customers walked in to find us both in a fit of giggles, and me dancing with a headless mannequin. Ah... good times, good times.

Shawn was able to remove the arms and then once I had the sweater on her, I had to get Shawn's help AGAIN to put the arms back on. I tell you, the mannequin was so wobbly, even once she was all re-assembled and secured that I have to wonder if she's hitting the sauce at night after we close the shop. I might have to start testing her BAC.

Wait! What's that in her hand? Caught her!!! I thought I was clear about no drinking at work. I guess we'll have to work on teaching her what beverages are appropriate for the workplace. Anyway, she wears the sweater well, and Karen did a great job on it. Thanks!

We've had some customers in recently with works in progress and completed works. Deborah N. is almost finished her Yankee Knitter English Ribbed Pullover. She is using Berroco Vintage Wool, which is SO popular that many of the colors are on backorder at Berroco. We're still okay on our stock, and we have more on order, but we're pretty sure we will see some delays with certain colors of this yarn. That's what happens when a new yarn is such a hit!

Then Beth C. came in yesterday with a really creative project.It's pretty clear she's a quilter! She made a jacket that is quilted, but the arms are knitted. She used the Blue Sky Melange for the sleeves and Emily luckily thought to grab the camera so we could share it with you. We closed out the Melange recently, but it was (and is!) a beautiful yarn!

Bring in your projects and let us photograph them and share on our blog. People love to see FO's!