Sunday, December 21, 2008

Yay or Nay?

Hi Knitters,
What do you think? My kids think no. I think maybe?
I knitted this with my 21 year-old niece in mind. Her birthday is the day after Christmas and I am always caught short for her gift. I am not sure if she will enjoy and wear this tam or not. It is pretty huge and fairly heavy. It is knitted with 2 strands of Manos (you need 3 skeins) held together on size 11 needles. Let me tell you, it was a bear to knit, really rough. You start with a size 7 sixteen inch circular and you cast on a small amount of stitches, then after the rib you almost triple the number of stitches in a couple of rounds. The first few inches were downright painful. If I had to do it again I would not start in the round but I would knit back and forth for a long while, then switch to working in the round and then seam up the first section at the end. It was very awkward knitting the whole way. I love the design though and the chunky cables are always a winner in my book.
There it is right on the cover of the newest Knit.1 magazine. My niece is a beautiful blonde just like the model. My kids think, "it looks kind of crazy" and "it looks like a chef hat," said by two of them at separate times. The Collector will not respond at all. She just peeked at me over the back of the couch. I know it is a trendy style hat and they are not used to it. It's more of a statement hat. I am just not sure if I should gift it or not....
I am sure of this, when your seventeen-year-old son asks for a knitted pair of mittens, you jump to it. I whipped these up for him to wear to swim team in the early mornings, they leave at about 5:40am every school day. The mittens are in his school colors, which he selected, and I measured his hands along the way to make up the pattern. They are custom made just for him and he loves them. He wore them inside all of last night and then I went to greet him this morning and he was wearing his mittens again. Score.

Give me your vote on the tam if you get a chance. Even if it turns out to be a "no-go" I still like trying out patterns and knitting new things. That's what it's all about.
best, susie

88 comments:

jenimok said...

As a college art professor I can honestly say this looks like something one of my students would wear. I say "yay", I think she'll love it.

Susan B. Anderson said...

Jenimok,
You are just the person I want to ask. Thank you. My kids maybe just don't appreciate the hat on me: )
susan

knitbot said...

I also say yay - I think it's super cool and perfect for someone in there early 20's! Great color.

Unknown said...

Hi Susan,
My initial vote was going to be "Nay." I live in Seattle, and don't see hats like this, even on young people. But we are more the earthy type around here. So maybe I am just totally out of it, fashion-wise. If your niece is the more fashion-forward type, then I say, "Yay," go ahead and give it to her.

Debbie

Veronica Tingvall said...

I definitely say yay to. I would love to have a hat like that.
Lots of love/ Veronica

Ps. I wish we had some snow to... Its just raining here in Sweden (except up north of course)

annemarie said...

Definitely yes - this is a darling hat and you look so darn cute in it!!

grammynan said...

If you look steadily at the second picture the cable almost looks like a horn (!) BUT in action, on a teenager, I think it looks very trendy not to mention warm.

Betz White said...

Hi,
It's funny reading these comments. I was kinda thinking maybe not. It just seems too bulky for the slouch silhouette. I sort of "get it" more when I look at it on the cover of the mag. I guess it depends on how hip the recipient is. :)
Aren't I a big help?
Betz

Anonymous said...

My daughter is 26 and she would love it. So I say yay!

WandaWoman said...

I like it. I think it looks cute on you. I definitely think your 20 yo niece would love it.

allison saunders said...

I vote yay. Last year I made my college-age niece an earflap hat with lumpy-bumpy yarn and wasn't so sure about it either. She loved it. I think it's beautiful.

Anonymous said...

I think it's adorable. It looks very European to me.

Anonymous said...

Adorable! Looks very European!

Debbie said...

Yay from a college town in snowy Iowa -- fashionable, warm, and bright pink/red, what more do you need? Go for it.

Anonymous said...

I think it looks great on YOU! It's a good style for the young adult set, so I think it's a go, unless you need a new hat for yourself!

peaknits said...

I think it looks great on you - and these are the things among the hip crowd - I say yay!

Knittin Kudzu said...

Susan,

I vote a definite "YES"! This is exactly what my college-age daughter loves! In fact when I sent her the link to your website she told me that she was casting on to make one for herself.

You make a great hat model by the way!!! Merry Christmas to you and yours!

Sandy

Anonymous said...

I think you're definitely right about it being a "statement" hat. It's a cool hat, so I think it's a definite "yay" if you think the statement is one your niece would make, or would want to make, herself. I say that because I've gotten a lot of cool "statement" items in the past and they end up staying that way in my closet because I don't have anything else to match it up to.

Anonymous said...

heck yes! i'm 28 and i'd wear it too. but i think the 21 year old me would like it even more. I think it'll be extra cute if she has bangs and wears it back on her head a little bit. Why I am dreaming of the way your niece migh wear a hat... I don't know! But give it to her!

Anonymous said...

I say it looks fine.
OH, I wish I had one.....
Love the color.

Anonymous said...

I say YES. Unless you want to keep it for yourself, because I think it looks great on you.

Mary Heather said...

I'm 26 and I think those hats are really cute, but I have a hard time thinking that they are cute on me...SO, I agree with what everybody else is saying about your niece and how "hip" and "fashion forward" she is. It's a very cute hat. :)

Anonymous said...

Yay from me...I would LOVE a hat like this

Susan B. Anderson said...

It's funny, I have to chime in. I am getting a lot of "nay's" through email response. So although it seems somewhat like all "yay's" it is still a mixed bag.

Thanks for the response, keep it coming!

susan

Kristie said...

I think it's beautiful with the cables and the color. Definately a wonderful gift for a twenty something. I would wear it for sure!!

Anonymous said...

I am 28 and would love to have that hat. The color is beautiful and I agree that it is a statement hat. Double points for how annoying it was to knit. Been there!

IF said...

its awesome. I'm a beginner but want to knit this hat so badly! sounds pretty tough going though. definately a beautiful gift!

Denise said...

I vote YES, it looks wonderful on you. Love the Christmas color.

Anonymous said...

i think the tam is perfect for a 21 year old. i'm 31 and would love to wear it!

and i love the mittens as well! i've been a mitten making fool this year for holiday presents.

caednkat said...

Every college age girl at my church this morning had on hats similar to this! I think your niece would love it1

Leah said...

I LOVE it! (And I'm a 20-something). I say Yes!

Anonymous said...

I love this hat...don't listen to the naysayers. I'm def. a "yay."

Anonymous said...

I think the hat is beautiful!! You can send it to me if see doesnt want it.

Anonymous said...

Cute, cute! A great gift for sure. If you decide not to gift it to your niece, I will give you my address and I will gladly wear it:)

Sarah said...

Yay! It's a super cute hat! That red will look beautiful with blond hair!!

paws said...

Totally depends on the girl. If she can wear it with the confidence and not feel self-conscious it will look great.

Anonymous said...

Love it! I'm a YAY!!

Anonymous said...

I say yay. It's cute and looks like a college student or young adult. Good choice.

amyandco said...

I say "YAY"! I would love to have a hat like that! Also, I LOVE the color! You can only have so many "beanie" type hats...this one is a little trendy and different! A good thing in my opinion.

Anonymous said...

I don't know your niece's style but I say, YAY.

Darla said...

I say Yay. I think is looks very nice - for you or your niece. If she likes the boho chic stuff I think you have a hit!!

Anonymous said...

Definately, Yay!

Darla said...

I say YAY!! This looks adorable! If your young niece is into boho chic then it will be a hit. Nice cool choice too.

Anonymous said...

A very trendy college girl in my knitting group wears hat like this all the time! I say YAY!!!

Lissa K said...

Susan,
I would say Yay! to the hat. I think your niece will love it. It looks great on you too.
I also love, love, love the mittens! Did you make up the pattern yourself? If not, where can I buy a copy? Too neat!
Lissa

Anonymous said...

I say 'yay'. I think it looks great!

Anonymous said...

Susan- LOVE it! Total Yah.
You are so talented.

~yolanda said...

I love it. I think your niece will love it as well.

Anne Cory said...

Susie,

You look beautiful in that tam! I think you should give it to your niece. It's hip and trendy and if she is too, she'll like it. As someone with a bday only a few days after Christmas myself, I'm sure she'll appreciate your not forgetting her bday or worse yet combining her Christmas and bday gift together! You're a good auntie.

lindagerig said...

For a girl that age I say yes. for me no. I do not like hats at all. Although I did wear one I knitted when I snow blowed the drive on Friday when we got a foot of snow in Michgan. Linda Gerig

Anonymous said...

I teach college, and have been seeing quite a bit of the slouchy style hats around on campus - hats are a necessity here in the frigid northern Midwest, so having one with style is a huge bonus!

JFibers said...

This is a super cool hat... It looks really great with your black jacket. I'm an art teacher and love to wear funky and fun hats with my black jacket..... definitely a YAY!

Anonymous said...

Hey -- I say a-b-s-o=l-u-t-e-l-y! It's an awesome display of style and knitterly love.

Go for it!

Anonymous said...

I say yes to gifting it but also yes to making one for yourself.

It looks great on you! We all need a bit of dash in our lives after all!

Sandy in NJ

Unknown said...

YAY! YAY! YAY!!!! I love it!

bensedin art said...

Yes!

Eartheo said...

I say a big "Yay!"

At 24, I wear a tam on a daily basis, and I looove it. The one you've made is one I'd most definitely add to my pile o'knitted goodies.

I also just spent this past Saturday in Boston, and with the time I was stuck on the subway, I had plenty of time to check out various styles of handknits on all the college gals and guys - This would fit right in!

Tiffany

Anonymous said...

Nay. I think the simple pleasures hat would be cuter!

Susan B. Anderson said...

I've got that Simple Pleasures hat fired up and ready to go, it's a beauty. Can't wait to start: )

Teri said...

I don't think you should gift it, just because you look so cute in it!

Your niece will love it!

The Handy Housewife said...

Yay -for sure.

Kathleen said...

I direct the theater program at my kids high school, and yep, I can totally see a teenager wearing this hat. Not sure if I like it on you...I you are very pretty, but the hat on you, well, not so much.

Anonymous said...

I say "yay." I think it looks great on you! Merry Christmas!

Anonymous said...

I love the hat, very Mary Tyler Moore only in pink.

Anonymous said...

I say yah cause I made it for my 17 y o niece! My 27 y o daughter tried it on and she wanted it. Fun pattern, isn't it!

Francie said...

Yes. Show her the magazine cover when you give it to her and she will like it even more.

And it looks great on you!

coffeechris said...

YAY - Here in Chicago it is a it is the look on the twenty something!

AndreaLea said...

Very cute!

Anonymous said...

Most definitely a "yay!" from here in Houston, where we RARELY have the opportunity to wear such winter finery. Color is beautiful - and I love the chunky cables. I may have to make myself one - just in case it ever gets cold enough here to wear it.

Hilary said...

It's an eh for me. I think it looks cute on you Susan but I wouldn't wear it... :-)

Knitterella said...

When I first opened your blog I thought 'great hat' and it looks great on YOU.

I say YEY - now knit one for yourself too!

Mrs. MK said...

What a great hat!! The color, shape and cables are all fabulous!! Very stylish, very pretty.....go for it!!

Anonymous said...

I vote a resounding yes. I think it's gorgous. I love that it's oversized and thihnk that she'll love it.

Sandra

Anonymous said...

I am an art student and think that it is an awesome hat and that she will totally love it!

Kristi ~ Ohio said...

I say "yay" Love it. It looks good on you.

Alice Regan said...

Well ...first of all, I'm a bit older than a college student. But I'm totally going to say YES, YES, YES! I love the new tam, it's gorgeous, beautiful and oh so stylish! Definetly YES!

Deb said...

That is a great hat. I say yay.

Katie said...

Total Yay! Many Loop customers are sporting chunky tams and looking fabulous. I wear an acid yellow one and get compliments all the time. Plus, I think tams wreck my hair less than a beanie. Katie (23) and The Loop vote Yay!

Lisa said...

I vote yes. I made similar hats for my tween nieces this year and they went over big! They loved them :)

Elise said...

I say "yay" and I think you should make one for yourself, you look great in it!! I am going to knit one for my daughter

Anonymous said...

I think the hat is really fun. If your niece has a fun-going "loud" personality, I think she would love it. I see hats like these a lot, and I think they look great. I'm 25, and I probably wouldn't wear it just because I would feel like I stood out too much, but that's just me. So, I say "yay" if you think it will fit her personality.

Anonymous said...

Just this morning I showed the mag cover to my 19 year old daughter and she said, "I would SO wear that!" so I say give it!!

The Litter Box House said...

I'm sure that I'm way late to this conversation, but I vote a yay for gifting it. I work at the UW and see girls with similar slouchy hats all the time. But of course not this EXACT hat!

As for how it looks on you, I would say "Great!" In fact, maybe you should keep it ;) I made this hat for myself (in a teal color) and love it. And I'm not a college young'un, I'm 36! BTW, I posted about this hat on my blog:
http://wakeupselkie.blogspot.com/2008/12/chunky-cabled-tam.html

By the way, you can make this hat with a thicker yarn than the pattern calls for. I used Berroco Cuzco, got gauge and had didn't have to deal with double stranding. And the hat isn't too heavy either.

Andrea

The Litter Box House said...

Oh and I forgot to mention that my step-daughter who turns 15 this month requested a black version for herself. And she lives most of the year in North Carolina! So I definitely think this hat is "in."

Andrea

Anonymous said...

The Tam is a winner in my book! I say Yay!

Anonymous said...

wondering about the mittens too - my hubby keeps bugging me for a pair and I love the look of the fit of those on your son. Is there a pattern written down somewhere I could purchase?

Susan B. Anderson said...

Melissa,
I don't have the mitten pattern written up but maybe sometime I will do that.
Thanks for asking.
susan

Anonymous said...

thanks Susan - that would be so great!

I love your blog - it always gets my creativity flowing :).