As soon as I saw the first few designs released on KDD’s Instagram profile, I had to immediately pre-order the book. And, I’m so glad I did. I simply want to knit EVERY SINGLE DESIGN!!!

From stripes to Fair Isle; Beanies and Tams - this collection has every possible variation. There must be a hat design to suit everyone’s personal preference?! I cant gush about this book enough - a thoughtful collection of designs that all sync and flow together and are beautifully photographed. The kind of book us knitters repeatedly flick through and absorb every pixel of colour.

Pattern: an extremely simple beanie-style hat with chevron repeats. It is charted and well explained. Getting the gauge was a bit tricky, I usually have to size-up a fair few needle sizes, but with this particular design, the recommended needle size was almost spot-on. This took a while to digest - A gauge I attained on the recommended needle size, eh?!

With regards to sizing - the scope to ‘stretch’’ the hat during blocking, is there. And, this is repeated throughout the book (a good 2” give) - so you can opt for the intended beanie style, or block to attain a little more slouch/larger circumference. I’ve opted to light block as I found the 20” circumference and 9” depth, to be about right for my wee head (still roomy enough too).

Yarn: Okay, so I don’t normally buy ‘kits’ as I like to do my own thing. But, this year I wanted to try new colourways that are different to be usual coastal inspired blues/neutrals etc. I would NEVER naturally opt for a red/brown/cream combo - but the kit provided that little encouragement to do something different. I’m glad I did. Plus, I got to try some of KDD’s Milarrochy Tweed…

…The wool/mohair blend provides a very light and airy fabric that is really easily worn - both heat and itch-factor. My only minor criticism is that the yarn does ‘thin’ in places - almost to the point it feels like it is about to break. And, it is a very breakable yarn! On a positive, it possess that lovely stickiness that you come to expect from British wools. I’ve not ‘spit-spliced’ my colour changes or carried the yarn up, but I have knotted - and this seems to hold very well.

Overall: a first out of 3 yarn kits I’ve acquired over the festive period, and I love it!

How to: wear. I haven’t photographed this hat well. Surprisingly there aren’t any mirrors along the lincolnshire Coastline and it was rather blustery - a case of getting the hat on the head whilst being pelted with wind/sand. I’d normally wear hat a little set-off the forehead and is pull the back down to allow for the slouch to show. Hey-ho.