Book of the Month for March

Whilst we have had some lovely weather this month there have still been some chilly snaps, with hats and gloves needed for going out. I love making hats as they can be worked up pretty quickly and can be very motivating when you are also working on a longer-term project at the same time. I've been enjoying getting on with my Bohemian Blooms blanket this month but when that doesn't quite suit the mood, a quick project such as a hat or pair of mitts, always provides an interesting and speedy distraction. On that basis the book I chose for this month is 'Crochet Messy Bun Hats' by Kristi Simpson (Stackpole Books 2024, ISBN 978-0-8117-7469-7).

I liked the idea of making something a little bit different this time and as my 17 year old daughter often wears her hair in a bun or ponytail a hat with a hole in the top seemed like a great idea. The other reason I quite like making hats/mitts is that they are good for using a small amount of yarn and when you have one or two balls left over from a previous project it's always particularly satisfying to find a use for them. I had a couple of balls of Rico Design Fashion Diayamondo in my stash. It's a lovely sparkly yarn with a 30% wool content so should provide the warmth needed in a hat and it works well as a substitute for the aran (medium, worsted) weight yarn used in most of the patterns in the book. I think it's discontinued now so there wouldn't be an option to get more to make a bigger item so ideal for this use. 

There are twelve patterns in the book, all with a difficulty rating of easy or intermediate, so most of them should definitely be achievable for  crocheters with limited experience, although I wouldn't say they were ideal for complete beginners. I decided to make 'Juniper', a top down make, with only basic stitches used and no ribbing. The patterns are clearly written, in a font size that is clear and comfortable to read. US terms are used throughout. 

I worked on the hat over a couple of evenings so it was just a few hours work in total and then roped Olivia in to model it for me. I'm rather pleased with the end result! 

​What kind of makes do you reach for when you need a break from a bigger project? Let me know in the comments if there are any particular things you would like me to feature when choosing my book of the month for review. 

'Crochet Messy Bun Hats' is available widely online but but if you are in the UK you can purchase this book, and others, through Search Press with a 20% discount and free delivery, by using the discount code DD88.

I'll be back in April with another book choice and hopefully by then Spring will have 'sprung' in earnest!