Book Review: Scrumptious Toppers

Recently I was scheduled to meet with a designer I'm knitting for.  We meet close to Lion Brand Studio so I figured I had to perfect excuse to subway myself down to see Debby Ware that same night.  I had to be in the area anyway, it's free, and there's AC; so why not right?*

Debby is such a sweet, friendly, bubbly lady.  She reminds me of a Virginian Version of Mrs. Weasley from the Harry Potter books.  She was interesting to watch, conversational and I really really liked her.  I just wish I could say the same for Scrumptious Toppers for Tots and Toddlers.

The hats in this book are outrageous and over the top.  Looking for a way to use up that novelty yarn that you can't even give away?  Buy this book!  Every piece has at least one of the following:  novelty yarns, bobbles, I-cords, French knots, pom poms...  Whoa.  Just whoa.

Debby said she designs for babies because they can't say no (as long as their mommy doesn't mind).  That right there should tell you something.

There are some patterns I do like, though.  The Birthday Cupcake Cap (no Ravelry link available) is probably my favorite out of the book.  I do plan on knitting one of these for Autumn for her first birthday (no, she's not even born yet...).  The hat has a banded brim (seemingly a favorite of Debby's judging by this book) and then a sparkly novelty yarn top making it look like a cupcake. On top is a candle standing straight up.  Along those birthday line is the Crystal Party Hat.  It's like knit birthday hats they can't destroy in 5 seconds!  The Feathers & Fringe Fedora could work too (though it doesn't really look like a fedora to me).

The Baby Beastie Beanie is pretty cute.  The top of the hat is knit split into two points to look like bunny ears.  A face is embroidered on and some color coordinated novelty yarn is used for the tips of the ear points.  Though they're bunnies so I'm not really sure what's going on with that name.

The Halloween Hat is cute.  It's your typical pumpkin/jack-o-lantern hat, but I love the way she designed the pumpkin ridges on it.  And it helps that the baby model looks like one of my favorite babies from the daycare I used to work at.  I bought yarn for this at the Gotham Moving Sale.

I don't know that I'd actually put this on a kid, but I think the Black and White and Red All Over is funky awesome looking.  Maybe if Lady Gaga had a kid he/she would wear it.

WTF MOMENT:  The Baby Chick Cap.  No words.  See for yourself. I dare you to put that on your child.  ::Ahem:: why does this one have a Ravelry page and the actual good patterns don't??  I don't get it.

Not included in the book was an adorable hat only available as a kit on Debby's website:  the Cherry Swirl Hat (Ravelry).  I loved this one.  You bet I want to make it for little baby Autumn.  Look at how cute those cherries are! I think I would knit the top flat though.  I don't think Autumn's Mommy would care so much for the funky style.

One thing I enjoyed about Debby's presentation was that she shared with us her dead end projects and how they lead to her "keepers."  One dead end lead her to the Fizzle Ruffle Beanie.  The dead end was a beret that fits and adult head in the same yellow yarn.  Only there was knit ruffles covering the hat.  At the end of these ruffles was that same reddish eyelash yarn.  As a had, oh.my.god no!  But I point out to Debby that it would make a perfect skirt for a little girl.  So you heard it here- when she makes that pattern, mhm, I gave her that idea!

Another thing I (as well as the others in attendance) enjoyed was that Debby's pieces were poorly or not at all finished.  Strings hanging, ends not woven in, and no attempt at hiding sewing/embroidery stitches.  Thank you Debby for not trying to be perfect!  Debby doesn't send her pieces off to professional finishers.  She doesn't try to make her pieces immaculate.  In her opinion, the pieces are for kids and kids aren't going to notice/care about what the inside of their hat looks like.

To see some pictures of the event,check out the blog post on Lion Brand Studio's Blog.  You can see a bit of my hair in one picture, or just check out some images of Debby's hats.  The ruffle hat I was talking about is the one on the projector screen with the caption "!!??!!??!".  Debby's also holding the hat,  It's also in someone's hand at the display table, and the cupcake hat is on the middle prop.

Overall, I don't think I'd recommend this book to others.  That being said, you really have to have a preference for dressing your children in outrageous clothing to like these patterns.  Maybe it's my age, but I just don't see Autumn wearing most of these things.  Her mommy just isn't into that style.  Maybe that will change when she arrives, but at least then I'm prepared.

*Just as Debbie was about to start her presentation, the designer texted me:  none of the other knitters could make it so she was cancelling.  This was the main cause of the horrible mood mentioned in the Knitty review post.

Book Review: Coffee Cozies

I didn't want to start my return posts with a bunch of book reviews, so I decided to do a finished piece post.  I sat outside and took some pictures before remembering that I don't have my camera cord and I'm at my dad's for a few days for subbing.  My little netbook (I feel he needs a name...) doesn't have a memory card slot so there's no way for me to get the pictures off the camera right now.  I have an extra Canon cord somewhere an ex-boyfriend left behind that I should keep with the extra laptop power cord.  So a finished object coming soon, but for now here's a book review!

I love coffee.  I've never liked to make coffee though.  For one person, it's always hard to get the proportions right.  Until I got my mini French coffee press.  I love it.  Now I do have a regular sized one (such as the ones used as models in this book), but I love my mini one because it's the perfect size for just one mug of coffee.

As soon as I saw this book at the library I knew I had to take it out.  I don't have tea pots to decorate with knitting so here's my niche.  The book is a collection of submissions to a design contest, though they don't tell you which is the winner.  There are some simple designs and some very detailed ones.  I think they're all great and want to make pretty much every single one (doesn't matter that I only have one regular sized press of course).  Here's the Ravelry page for the book and now for a look at my favorites:

Rainbow Rib- This pattern plays up Noro's best asset:  its beautiful colors.  It's made of a simple rib stitch, letting the color progression take the stage.  It was photographed in the book with the types of really fun buttons that I never seem to have a real use for.  This may finally be an excuse for me to try some Noro.

Cotton Candy (no Rav page)- This one was fun and chunky.  It definitely did remind me of cotton candy.  Mmmm :o)

Fringe Folk- This cozy is knit one row per strand of yarn to create a simple fringe.  It's a great way to use up lots of little leftovers.  I might use my leftovers from the NLC for this when it's eventually done.

Pearly Queen- This was a simple plain stitch pattern with Mother of Pearl buttons sewn into the shape of simple flowers.  Now you may not want to spend money on Mother of Pearl, but I think it's a great way to use up the spare buttons from button-down shirts and such.  

Cappuccino- This is awesome!  I absolutely LOVE this one.  It's another with a plain stitch pattern, but the image of an Italian style coffee cup complete with steam stitched into it.  This is the perfect cozy for a French press.

Shortbread Crunch-  This was something I don't see using very often.  It was the typical Christmas colored plaid I had on my Christmas nightgown as a kid.  It would be perfect to use on Christmas with your family or even as the perfect Christmas gift.

Ducks on Parade- The way this one is pictured, it looks too much like it should be a bathroom decoration or for a baby boy's room.  I think I'd like it better if the blue was darker (you know, what water actually looks like?).  I do have to say it did make me awwwww when I first saw it.

Cable Classic- This pattern is exactly what it's name says:  a simple clean cable pattern to adorn a press. 

Straight from the Tree- This piece is more artwork than functional.  It deserves to be center stage on any coffee table.  It consists of colorwork depicting a tree.  This is the one I'm saddest about not having a Ravelry page for all of you to see.  I guess you'll just have to check the book out yourself.

Woven Stripes- Now usually when a knit piece is "woven" the stitch pattern calls for some variation of the basketweave stitch.  Not here.  I love that this is actually crochet strips that are woven and sewn together.  The only thing I didn't like about this pattern was the giant bobbles in the back at the seam.

Bollywood Bling- This piece is beautiful but entirely dependent upon the yarn.  It was a simple stitch done with recycled silk sari scraps which of course gave it a nice sheen.  The one in the book has little gold coin charms dangling giving it that extra umph.

Coffee and Cake- This is a perfect pairing.  A plain pink cozy with knit cupcakes sewn on...what more can you ask for?  Well, yea the coffee to go with it.  The designer also placed pastel buttons around the cupcakes.  This one has embellishment to the max!

A great thing about this book is that there is a helpful section in the back on adjusting yarns and the importance of tension.  Most coffee presses are a standard size, but you never know when one company will differ from another.  They of course also have the typical knitting technique section too, just in case, you know, you forget how to purl or something.

I only have one regular coffee press (that I never used because of its larger size) and yet I want to make almost every pattern in this book.  I am concerned about actually using one of these because there's always coffee drippage and not all of these are washable.  Plus coffee stains.  So if you do want to make one, maybe make two.  One for show when the press isn't being used and one that is nice but durable and without too much work that you wouldn't be devastated if it did get a stain.