First things first, the winner of a copy of As the Heel Turns: Taking the drama out of knitting socks by Hilary Latimer is Kris, who has been emailed. Thank you, Hilary, for sending me a review copy and supplying a second copy for my giveaway!
And I have another book to review:
This is A Head For Trouble: What To Knit While Catching Crooks, Chasing Clues, and Solving Murders (20 Hats and Adornments Inspired by Lady Detectives of the Roaring Twenties) by Julie Turjoman. I have the eBook version for review.
Note: Julie has a pre-order bonus via her website good through October 31, 2014. Anyone who pre-orders the print copy and e-book combo will receive the bonus e-book collection called A Head for Fashion (Ravelry link). If you order the print or the e-book, you will receive one of your choice of the six patterns in the book. After November 1, 2014, the patterns in the e-book are available for sale separately. They are a lovely companion to the main book.
Back to a Head for Trouble: as a voracious reader I appreciate the theme for this book: accessories themed after the spunky “girl detectives” of the Jazz Age. There are 10 detectives covered in the book, and for each one there is a hat plus a coordinating accessory: fingerless mitts, a scarf, a bag, etc. So, twenty patterns in all. You can take a look at all the patterns here on the book’s Ravelry page.
There is a section on the anatomy of a hat, along with detailed descriptions of each type of hat in the book — what makes a cloche a cloche? There is also useful information on how and where to measure so that your knitted piece will fit the recipient.
Each set has an introduction about the detective for which the patterns were named. I was happy to see one of my favorite girl detectives, Maisie Dobbs, included. I love Maisie’s smart cloche:
and her matching driving mitts:
Maisie tools around in an MG roadster, her pride and joy, so driving mitts were a perfect choice for her accessory! The colors used and the style of her hat and mitts are a good reflection of her personality as well.
The hats are all darling (as is the very 1920s-looking model) and I do think there is something for everyone here. These are not plain beanies, but beautifully designed cloches, tams, head wraps, and other 1020s-styled head coverings. Stylish adornments here and there really “make” the designs into lovely millinery masterpieces.
The accompanying accessories are equally as beautiful, some adorned with embellishments as well. (And there is a resource list in the back of the book that tells you where you can purchase the embellishments.) I think a hat plus accessory would make a wonderful holiday gift for a stylish woman.
I have been authorized to offer a copy of the e-book in a blog giveaway. Who’d like it?
To be entered in a drawing to win a copy of A Head For Trouble: What To Knit While Catching Crooks, Chasing Clues, and Solving Murders (20 Hats and Adornments Inspired by Lady Detectives of the Roaring Twenties) by Julie Turjoman, leave a comment on this blog post by noon Eastern time Wednesday, November 5, 2014. I’ll choose a lucky winner at random at that time.
Current Work in Progress
Here is my current work in progress:
This is Ashburn, a wrap designed by Melanie Berg. I am making mine from this yummy yarn:
This is Woolfolk Tynd, a new fingering weight merino wool yarn. I ordered it after reading a positive review of the worsted weight version on Knitters Review. This yarn really is wonderful. It is incredibly soft and fine, and the colors are lovely. Woolfolk calls this fiber “ultra merino” and as soon as I felt it I could well understand why. I have purchased more Tynd for my next project — a stranded colorwork design. Can’t hardly wait!
Loki sez:
“Quiet! I am napping!”