A Winner and a Baby Hat

Wow--you guys are all about winning, aren't you? I wish I could send all of you a free book but that's not in the budget. So instead let's all give a big round of applause to the winner Jannoknits! Tippecanoe has made his pronouncement and no one can defy him. Just look at him, he can't be swayed!

 Since you're here you might as well look at what is basically the cutest baby hat I have every made. I made it for a good friend's new baby boy and feel that I have discovered my new go-to baby pattern, which is to say that if you're preggo, I'm making this for you.

The Specs
Pattern:Alfalfa Baby Hat by Kate Gagnon
Yarn: Cascade 220 in 'Turquoise Heather', .45 of a skein
Needles: size 4
Mods: I did this on smaller than recommended needles in order to get a size fit for a newborn.

There is something, dare I say, sculptural about this hat? It's just such a perfect shape. So easy and FAST....I'm pretty sure I was doped up on Alka-Seltzer Plus Cold Remedy while making this and it took less than 4 hours, so that should give you an indication of how non-complicated the pattern is.

Once again Cascade 220 proves to be a workhorse yarn. OMG--is there anything this yarn CAN'T do? I've knit it on everything from a size 4-size 8 and have always been thrilled with the results. And the colors--seriously. Above you see depicted the famous Cascade 200 wall at Natural Stitches. Just tell me that it doesn't make you weak at the knees!

Knit to Flatter

As the most math-phobic knitter on the damn planet I have to say that I am blown away by the acumen for knitting arithmetic displayed in Amy Herzog's brand-new Knit to Flatter. You guys, she has gotten her abacus and tape measure out and breaks it down for you in this book!

If you know anything about Amy, you know that she one of the most passionate knitters and designers you will ever meet. Her absolute love for the craft as well as meticulous attention to fit shine through in this book. That someone would take the time and research a series of precepts and modifications that will help other knitters knit sweaters that will fit them perfectly is really quite amazing. I mean, I'm such a selfish knitter that if I were going to try to figure the whole body proportion thing I would just do it for myself and just leave the rest of you lot to work it out on your own. But Amy didn't do that! She's nice like that!

Knit to Flatter contains page after page of absolutely luscious sweaters. You know that thing where you buy a knitting book and there are maybe like 2/20 of the sweaters that you might actually wear? Yeah that's not the case here. You are basically getting this book and then wanting to knit almost everything in it.  That being said, I have narrowed it down to two that will be MINE ALL MINE once I check out of Hatville (more updates coming soon, I promise!).

First up for me will definitely be Delish Cardigan. Delish, right? Everything about this cardigan is so appealing to me: the stitch pattern, the plain hem + narrow v-neck, the open cardigan design--I love all of it. Of course the fact that the sweater pictured is done in Hand Maiden Lady Godiva isn't hurting anything either. This is a sweater I can see making and wearing.

I am also extremely drawn to Stoker because ZOMG comfy cowl alert! I hope you can see the perfection that is this sweater. I am obsessed with the simplicity of this sweater. It's a stockinette cowl-,but with expert shaping. And it fits perfectly. This pattern is pictured in Valley Yarns Stockbridge which an alpaca wool blend that has a nice price AND is soft as all get out.

There is no doubt in mind that you are bound to fall in love with more than a few of these sweaters and the techniques that bring them into being. As luck would have it, I have a copy of Knit to Flatter to give away, so just leave a comment below indicating your interest and I will use my random number generator (i.e. I my cat Tippecanoe points to a piece of paper with your name on it), and I'll send it off straight away! I'll close the whole thing down by Weds., so you best hurry!