Review: Margeau Chapeau: A New Perspective on Classic Knit Hats

July 21, 2016 by Sarah White

I really love knitting hats. I don’t wear hats enough to justify how much I love knitting hats, but at least every year I have to knit myself a new one.

hat knitting patterns called Margeau Chapeau

They’re a lot of fun because you can use all sorts of different techniques on them, they feel a little more sophisticated skill-wise than scarves because there’s usually a little shaping, but they are relatively small projects that you can finish faster than a shawl or sweater. And because they’re an accessory, you can get a little wild with color and style in a way you might not with something you wear more often.

Margeau Soboti loves hats, too, especially in classic shapes with a twist. Her book has 14 patterns, 7 each rated easy and intermediate. There are cables, brioche, ribbing, simple colorwork and easy shapes using bulky yarn for projects that are fun to knit and finished in a flash. All are sized for women, with one also having an option for men.

I love Optical, a two-color beanie sized for women that uses a simple stitch pattern and is highlighted by a giant pompom; Twist Turban, a super simple project that is just what it sounds like; Charlie Chevron, a slouchy hat worked in one color with a textured zig-zag pattern; and the Ombre Hat, worked in two colors that shift through the knitting for a look that’s more fun than basic stripes. You can check out all the projects on Ravelry.

This book offers a lot of great basic hats you’ll want to knit and wear every day. That makes it sound boring, but it’s really not. These patterns are a great combination of luxury and simplicity, ease and style you’re sure to love for yourself and for any gift knitting you might want to do. Those turbans could be my go-to gift knit this year.

About the Book: 78 pages, paperback, 14 patterns. Published by Dover Publications, March 2016. Suggested retail $16.95.

Next Pattern:

Have you read?

Textured Hat Knitting Patterns

There are all sorts of knitting techniques you can use on hats, but some of my favorites are textured stitch patterns or cabled hats worked in a single color. Check out these great textured hat knitting patterns and find your next fall favorite.

The K?pekapeka hat from The Practice of Fibre was the one that got me started thinking about textured hat knitting patterns. This one has a simple zig-zag pattern worked with purls. This hat uses centered double decreases for shaping to help keep the pattern going as you finish the top of the hat. It uses worked weight yarn.

Little Totz Designs has this simple knit hat that uses worsted weight yarn and an allover knit-purl stitch pattern that’s easy to memorize. This one would be a great first hat in the round pattern if that’s something you haven’t tried before.

The Fia Beanie from Honey and Grace Fiber Co is another simple stitch pattern that’s full of texture. It calls for bulky yarn so it should stitch up in no time in this great textured diamond design.

Kalurah Hudson’s Cindersmoke hat is an interesting stitch design that uses double moss stitch and bands of slipped stitches throughout the pattern, which is where the decreases are worked, keeping the rest of the pattern as established. It uses bulky yarn and is sized for adults, and you can find it on Ravelry.

Benjamin Matthews has such pretty designs that often turn out to be simpler to knit than they look. The Snow Carved Beanie (find it on Ravelry) for example only uses knits, purls and slipped stitches, but it has a design that looks almost like cables. The pattern uses worsted weight yarn and has a foldover brim for extra warmth.

While I wanted to keep the focus in this roundup on simple stitch patterns, basic cables are not that much more difficult than regular knitting, and the lattice pattern on this CrissCross Hat form the Purling Princess is so charming I couldn’t resist sharing. This hat comes in three sizes (baby, child and adult) and uses worsted weight yarn. It would be a great gift to knit if you’re thinking about that.