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

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:

I don’t know if it’s possible to look at the Snug Wrap from Sylvia Watts-Cherry and not smile. There’s so much fun stuff going on in it that if I had a bunch of sport weight yarn in my house I definitely would have cast this one on immediately after seeing it.

There’s stripes and circles of different sizes and colors, worked with intarsia. The wrap is worked sideways in both garter stitch and stockinette, so different sections also have different textures. Color blocking means you’ll use a lot of two main colors, and there are two more colors used for contrast throughout the piece.

As I mentioned, the project calls for sport weight yarn, and it’s already pretty big — 23.25 by 82 inches or 59 by 208 cm — so you probably wouldn’t want to use heavier yarn unless you just want to make it a super scarf. You could use even lighter yarn to make it more of a scarf than a shawl if you wanted.

The yarn used is a combination of Merino wool and recycled threads from La Bien Aimée’s yarn making process, so it’s a fun way to reduce waste while making something awesome.

The color motifs are depicted in charts in the pattern, but none of these are difficult so even if you’re new to chart reading you should be able to handle this pattern. The colors in the sample are so pretty but you can of course change it up with your favorites that will make you smile as you knit and wear this super fun pattern.

As usual, checking out the projects tab on Ravelry will show you some more fun color options. I love the idea of using jewel tones to give it a more wintry look, but the sky is the limit when it comes to color options.

You can find this pattern on Ravelry.

[Photo: Sylvia Watts-Cherry]

Next Pattern:

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