All the things that really make an outfit
Hip Knit Hats
You could title this one "thinking out of the hat box," it is such a fun and innovative collection of hat designs. There are felted hats and hats with flowers and more on them; fluffy hats and ultra-cool hats; chic cloches vie for attention with snappy berets and Peruvian-inspired earflap hats sporting rugby team colors (really!). The designs are so engaging they could well lead to an explosion of hat-design interest, something I'd love to see. In fact, that would be the best possible outcome: that knitters enter the world of fashion and fun and discover how much fun it is to create new styles of hats, and to wear them. Hip Knit Hats is exciting and inspiring - I can't recommend it highly enough.
Oh, and the instructions are clear and easy-to-follow, and all hats are presented in both medium and large sizes. Skill levels are marked, most falling in the beginner to intermediate range.
Hats Gloves Scarves
From elegant lace scarves to toasty, snowball-ready mittens and ear-snugging hats, Louisa Harding's wonderful good taste and wide ranging designer's eye pulls it all together as she inspires us with page after page of ideas both practical and elegant. The yarns she uses are easily available and also easy to substitute; her ideas are all charming, needed skills run from beginner to advanced with most falling in the advanced beginner to intermediate range. Hats Gloves Scarves is a beautifully conceived collection by an excellent designer - a knitting book to love.