my "urchin beret"

I'm pretty much in love with my new hat. And yes - I know I just said that about another hat. It's not that I'm a fickle hat lover - it's that I actually - and sadly -have misplaced that hat (I'm not calling it 'lost' yet). A bummer to be sure. But - it also gave me the perfect excuse to knit myself another new hat. A silver lining!

The pattern is the "urchin beret" from Twinkle's Weekend Knits: 30 Fast Designs for Fun Getaways. It's a beautiful book, and the designs really are unique - but wearable. Wearable is important. I've been itching to make a sweater, and I think it might just come from this book - I'm deciding between the Nimbus or the Cloudburst. Such fun names, aren't they? And it just occurred to me (sometimes I'm slow to catch on to these things) where the name "urchin beret' comes from for this hat. It totally does look like a  sea urchin from the top! And how much do I love the thought of walking around with a little bit of the ocean on me in the middle of the winter, even if only in theory? So much.

(all of these photos are by my very talented and sweet Steve by the way.)

I do realize (now) that I've knit myself more than a few green hats over the years. But - leave me wandering in a yarn shop with no pre-determined plan and there's a likely chance I'll walk out of there with some green yarn. (This is Cascade Magnum, from KnitWit - a favorite local yarn spot.)

Oh, and, this book is aptly titled - particularly on the 'fast' part. This hat - knit on gigantic size 17 needles - was finished before the end of a movie. (Jules et Jim - oh my gosh, I love that movie - I could listen to this over and over.) Anyway, that's a fast knit. I don't really think of knitting as something that needs to or even should be done fast, but sometimes it's kind of fun when it is. Especially when there's snow in the forecast (and in Maine this winter, when isn't snow in the forecast?), and I want to wear my new favorite hat. Like, today, for example.

(Hang in there, local peeps & similarly snowed-over friends! Spring will come. And for now, we have some beautiful snow. This is my February mantra.)

Comments

[sarah]

I'm betting we'll have snow on the north side of our house in May!

[Aimee]

I love the way that hat looks. The green against your hair looks beautiful.

I've got some big wool hiding in my stash somewhere. I may need to knit this hat with it.

[Mary Beth]

Ooh, love it. And your sweater, too!

[Marcela]

Hi Amanda!
I’M FROM BRAZIL!!
It’s the second time that I write a coment and I love, love, love your blog!
I can’t wait to try some of your ideas and projects of your book, though my son is 2 years old!!! Unhappyly it will not be available to buy here in Brazil!! How can I have a copy????
I try to win a copy on The Artful Parent blog, and I’m so sad that I loose!
I’m so grateful for you inspires me to simplify life with my son.
Hugs and kisses to you and your babies!
Sorry my bad english!!!

[KievMama]

From the title, I was expecting to be light pink. Too sad about the button hat.

Oh, and yep, it's snowing here today after two full days of glorious blue skies and dry sidewalks.

[Carrie]

SO cool! I will hopefully be able to knit,someday...

[SOULEMAMA]

*************************
Good morning!

Marcela - I hope to share news of the international distribution of The Creative Family in the next couple of days - I've had lots of questions about it and I'm working on an answer. Thank you!!

KievMama - oh, it would have been lovely in pink, especially now that I made the 'urchin' connection. ;) I might need to make just one more.

--amanda

*************************

[camerashymomma]

i love the hat and the idea of a sea urchin clinging gently to your noggin in the cold snow! these are wonderful pictures, the colors really pop in the snow.

[erin]

i love it. i might need to get that book - lots of great and fast projects. i just bought yarn to knit one of her designs (it was in the fall IK). you've got me itching to cast on.

[Jennifer]

I like that hat. It looks really warm too.
Smiles!

[kristen]

yes please, spring.

i love the red in your hair, it looks purdy with the green of your hat.

[Julia]

These are amazing pictures, by the way! The colors and angles *sighs* so beautiful!

[Suzanne]

OOOh I love chunky hats--this one is cute!

[Stefani]

It will friend, I promise, it really really will come! And if Spring doesn't come, well just come to spring! We'd be glad to have ya in Texas!

You know, it would be so nice if we could do a little season swap. You give me some of your falll, and I'll give you some of our early spring :-)

[melissa]

Love the mantra, mine is that Autumn will come. Another 5 day forecast of over 37 degrees celcius....We are all turning a little crispy around the edges.

[lera]

Great hat! Love the green!

[lina]

Oh I know what you mean about the snow. It's been on the ground since mid November here (didn't melt till mid April last year - yikes!). The green hat/red hair combination is very cool.

[maya]

i ADORE that hat. i know how to knit and purl but never learned how to make anything from a pattern or any other stitches. i think this should be the year i do. that hat is just too cute.

[julia]

lovely hat amanda! it looks so beautiful with the red hair. and all that snow! we've been lacking in the snow department here in mn, but not in the cold (multiple -27 weekends in a row!). at least you're working out those shoveling muscles. happy wednesday!

[Michaela]

What is Soulepapa's job that takes him past such beautiful sights? May we know?
Thanks for the blog, by the way. It's lovely.

[Amy]

That's probably the best knit hat I've ever seen for adults.

Love. It.

[colleen]

i love the hat. i love the snow. it's 65 degrees here today. i guess i'll have to knit in cotton. wahhhhh.

[SOULEMAMA]

***************************

Michaela - He's an environmental engineering consultant. So he does a lot of traveling by some beautiful spots in New England. But I think he also has an amazing eye for finding beauty where lots of us (me included) would never think to see it.

--amanda

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[brandie]

when i saw amy yesterday i was wearing my blue hat, and she asked if it was an amanda hat :)

[Bluebirdbaby]

Beautiful snow indeed. But I sure could do without the accompanying rain!

[Regina Casner]

I love the green hat. Perfect knit with those chunky needles!

[jo]

The hat looks fabulous with the contrast of you hair and then all of that against the white snow...props to your camera man.www.littleyellowbirds.blogspot.com/

[amanda bel]

Thanks for the movie reccomendation! I went to put it in my Netflix queue, but it was already there! (So I bumped it up a little.)

Wish I had a reason to knit a hat, no snow here in Costal Virgina this year :(

[Lila]

HI AMANDA ::

JUST TO SHARE THIS.
[IT WAS 8 YEARS AGO, I THINK]

http://video.aol.com/video-detail/vanessa-paradis-et-jeanne-moreau/1652438101

IT GIVES ME GOOSE BUMPS EVERY SINGLE TIME.

HAPPY LISTENING...!

[greenemother]

Thanks for the Jim et Jules clips! My daughter loved the song so much that may try to figure it out on the guitar and play it to her!

[natasha s]

green really suits you so keep using it:0)

[dirtwitch]

I was just bemoaning my lack of time for knitting - 4 month old baby - I think this book is going on my list.

I try to knit up stuff in other colours but I always default to oranges for some reason. Orange yarn just makes me happy. I actively dislike knitting with purple yarn too. Especially in winter.

[Caren]

The hat is lovely and I'm totally digging the color of your hair! I've always wanted auburn hair but never had the guts to dye it... Thanks for the knitting inspiration. I'm currently working on my first sweater, on size 8 needles, and it's going pretty slowly as I haven't knit a stitch since my daughter was born nearly 3 years ago!

[Anna]

Ooh. Love those big fluffy stitches. They make the hat look very lush.

[Amber]

Oh, I love the green against your pretty hair color. What beautiful photos!

I LOVE the sweater you're wearing, too! Did you knit it? If so, what is the pattern? ;-) Which also reminds me to ask, are you on Ravelry?

[Nichole]

pretty hat!

[renee]

love that movie and troufeau in general! I forget if it's this one or another but there's a driving sequence in snow that is quiet except light music- gives me the chills and seriously astounded me. The windshield wipers go back and forth through a quiet drive in the snow. Ah, it gave me chills. I rewatched that part 20 times i think. Best part of being a film student was seeing so many unique movies. The bad part is forgetting which scene goes with what movie sometimes. He's a great filmmaker though. Great hat too. BTW, i just reviewed a book that i swear reminds me of you and your family (well the part i see in your blog). It's about a maine family...unique, into nature, look at annie dillards "the Maytrees" if you get a chance. She was a tough read for me but the book has lingered in my thoughts long after putting it down. Long comment officially over. :-)

[katie]

I just love getting to my office every day and turning to your blog for some crafty inspiration before I run a million and one regressions. Seeing the *pop* of the green hat against the snow made me want to say thanks immediately. so Thanks!

[Sally McEntire]

I miss the snow! I live in Portland OR, and we just get a lot of rain. Originally being from Utah, I love seeing pictures of a 'real' winter. BTW-your hat is very cute, I too am one for the color green. Looks good with your red hair.

[Janey]

Amanda, love the hat. We are having an Ice Storm today with all the schools closed a good day to stay inside and sew or knit. I noticed you live in Maine we vacation every year in Biddeford Pool is that close to you? This year will be our tenth year and in weather like this we can't wait.

[Maria]

Okay, first those great converse shoes that I really MUST have and now a totally maine urchin hat. I should have that too, but I don't knit. That's gonna be a problem. But maybe it could be my first try...

[geek+nerd]

This is going to sound so silly - but I'm SO happy you posted those YouTube links to Jules et Jim. Just the other day I was watching one of those classic movie preview reels, where they show a bunch of clips at once, but don't give the titles, because supposedly these films are so famous that *everyone* must know them, and I thought to myself. "I have seen that scene of three people running down that bridge a million times in my life and I have no idea what movie it's from." And I got a little peeved - because what was I supposed to do? Type "three people running black and white movie" in a search engine and pray for the best?! You've solved a great mystery! So, thank you!

[Chris]

Sweet Beret and...
Jules et Jim...Truffaud...Jeanne Moreau...Just Happiness...

[Sarah]

That is such a cute hat! I'm currently still relegated to scarves and other straight things. But you inspire me to one day reach beyond it! :)

[Dharmamama]

I'm happy to see the green! Nice in February. When I read "urchin hat", I was thinking like Oliver Twist or someone like that, some poor street child begging. Love that it's a sea urchin!

@ geek+nerd - I have done so many searches like that! And I usually find what I'm looking for, mainly because other folks have posted exactly the same thing, looking for what I'm looking for! lol The web's amazing. And frustrating.

[Barbara Smith]

I love chunky knits like that, tres chic! ;-)

[Mandi]

Love the hat and color! That is the second hat knitted with Cascade Magnum that I have fallen in love with. Unfortunately the yarn stores where I am in the South don't feel we need super chunky wool yarn. Go figure, it's 70 degrees here to day. I must say I am jealous to see all that beautiful white! First time commenting! Love your blog and I can't wait for the book.

[shari]

beautiful hat, beautiful photos and beautiful snow. i haven't seen ANY this year. sigh. xo

[Elizabeth]

also loving the hat and remembering the ocean in winter. at least the snow is pretty - i prefer it to gray!

[Naomi]

Hi! Great hat, and what a great sweater! I too would like to know if you made that lovely long sweater, and if so what pattern is it? What an all around great blog, and what fantastic comments. Lots of joy and kindness. I don't have any kids (yet) but I can't wait for the book! THANK YOU!