Hats – Page 2 – Emma Varnam’s blog

Adventures in Childrens Fashion ~ Marmalade & Mash

Last Autumn I made a virtual friend through Twitter – I know, how very modern! The childrens fashion designer Naomi Langford-Archer asked me if I would create some pom-pom berets for her AW13/14 photo-shoot. I was very happy to help and the resulting look was a little bit of ‘Railway Children’ chic.

So simple, yet pretty and child-like. Naomi Langford -Archer, has a beautiful eye and it is so great to see traditional yet bright and quirky clothes available for children.

I am rather delighted to be part of this collaboration and if I am honest the photos just bring a big smile to my face. There is very Iittle chance of me taking a photo of Little B in a pom-pom beret, he is the most reluctant of models (‘Sensible boy’, I hear your cry). So this is one of the rare times when I can see my hatty nonsense on a real little person. Delightful.

All the images are property of MARMALADE&MASH, UK.

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Autumn issue of Knitting Magazine – Gingernut and Cinder

The excitement of seeing one of my designs in print never grows old. Sometimes I am fortunate enough to have an issue posted to our house. But actually the real thrill is leafing through a fresh issue in a newsagent or a supermarket and spotting an image within and then paying for the magazine with a beaming smile. A secret, cheeky joy.

This month I have three accessories in the Autumn issue of Knitting Magazine.

For the autumn season you will see a funky twist on plaid cropping up on the high street. Oh my word how the fashions of my university days are coming round again. Firstly here is my Gingernut cowl. My love affair with the cowl scarf doesn’t appear to be diminishing. Such a practical design which compliments the neckline with no fuss. Perfect.

With this commission I wanted to combine autumn tones with a classic tartan pattern. The beauty of this pattern is a really easy twist on creating the vertical lines of colour using a crochet hook.

At the weekend I will do a little techniques tutorial. I really enjoyed making this. Not least because I know which jacket I will match it with for my autumn wardrobe.

Next the Cinder slouch hat and legwarmers. This Artesano Aran is gorgeous to work with. A fabulous superfine alpaca. The colours I have gone with here remind me of cinder toffee and plum crumble, yummy.

I swapped the colour-way round to show you how choosing a different dominant shade for the main colour can give you a totally different effect.

If you are thinking that these colour choices are too ‘zingy’ for your tastes. What about a chic monochrome palette of black and white, or perhaps go all Nordic Christmas with a Scarlet Red and cream.

You may not imagine that you will ever venture again into a bobble hat. Like me you might have done the leg-warmer the first time round. But believe me any teenager or student in your life will be happy for these items for Christmas. I never thought I would revisit the legwarmer, but do you know what? With some skinny jeans and chunky boots I might be able to rock this look. The photo above makes me laugh because I was trying out the warmers for size at the beginning of hot June – I have lived all summer in these flatties – perhaps not the best combination with slubby aran.

Tell me what you think. I hate to say it but I am sort of looking forward to the autumn, just so I can try out my new snuggly creations.

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Marmalade and Mash ~ Bubble and Squeak with delight

I discovered the fabulous Marmalade and Mash children’s clothes through Mollie Makes magazine. The style is quintessentially British, the clothes remind me of the dresses and blouses which my mother made me. So simple, yet pretty and child-like. They have gained more more following in the last few months. I was delighted to contribute to their AW13/14 photo-shoot with a couple of simple garter stitch berets. How cool is that! A little bit of ‘Railway Children’ chic. Naomi Langford -Archer, has a beautiful eye and it is so great to see traditional yet bright and quirky clothes available for children.

If you would like to see more of this collection – please pop by the super stylish blogs of chi.qui.ti.tos and Illmondodiingrid

Marmalade and Mash will be exhibiting their clothes at the trade fair Bubble London which is at the Business Design Centre between 27-28 January, 2013.

All the images are property of MARMALADE&MASH, UK.

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Bonny Bonnet

If you are a regular reader you might be aware that I have been returning to a ‘first love’, making cute homemade outfits for babies. But instead of turning to the pastels I have reached for the very smart navy, which can look so cute on little ones.

I think bonnets might make a bit of a come back and so I decided that I wanted to have a quick go at making a little crochet bonnet which would look ever-so smart for Christmas. Of course the genius of a bonnet is that the ribbon avoids any nifty hands flinging the hat across a crowded supermaket.

The shell edging of this design also frames the rosy face of little bairn so well. Such a simple granny square design which is then pulled into shape by the ribbon. Cute.

There is one problem, all my friends keep having boys. So I haven’t been able to put this little sample on a bonny girl for you. But I think it is a wee bit sweet.

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Funny Commission – Baby Boy Blue

When I get asked what is the strangest/funniest thing I have ever knitted. I normally would talk about the Strawberry Hat I was commissioned to make for Mr Bloom. It was fun and Ben (who is Mr Bloom) really enjoyed wearing it in his second series. But making a fruit based hat for a grown man isn’t an everyday occurrence.

If asked again I might say: Baby Boy doll’s clothes. I got stopped in the playground and asked if I could rustle up something which would change a very girly baby doll into a little boy. Not having a little girl or a little boy who has strayed much from his obsession with cars or Lego, I was unaware of how girly doll fashion appears to be. I did a little bit of research on what was out there, but most of the clothes available to buy are very much of a pink hue. I wonder if people do knit clothes for dolls now? When I was little, kind Grandmas and aunts would provide a veritable wardrobe for your cherished doll. Certainly I don’t think there is much out there which reflects what little boys actually wear. So taking my inspiration from the Mini Boden catalogue and trying to use up some of the humongous stash, I whipped up this little outfit. Don’t get me wrong, this is probably a one-off project. But it was quite fun playing doll fashion designer for a couple of days. Have a lovely weekend.

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Baby Knitting Essentials – Cute Pom Pom Beret

I have spent the last few weeks just enjoying ‘making’. I really enjoy designing but there are times when my little brain needs to refuel and I really enjoy following someone else’s pattern. There are a number of lovely ladies at my work who are about to have new babies. When new little ones arrive then the patterns to turn to are of course Debbie Bliss. Debbie’s book: The Ultimate Book of baby knits, is brilliant. With over 50 patterns there are plenty to choose from and the techniques sections are very well explained and illustrated. So I would even suggest this book for a beginner.

This pom-pom beret is soooo cute and reminded me of the tamoshanter of Benjamin Bunny, I just had to make it. I realise I am just too old for it, but I really want to scale this pattern up for me as a little bit of festive silliness. If I do it, I will share the hilarity of it with you.

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Waste not – Want not: The Louisa teacosy

After finishing my ‘New Day Cowl’, I had the a little bit of the beautiful yarn left. When it comes to wool I really hate throwing bits away. I think it was this issue which initially encouraged me to learn to crochet. At least I could use my little left over fragments to make granny square blankets.

Looking at this little remnant two ideas came together. On my last visit to London Town and Liberty my friends and I had remarked upon some beautiful cashmere bobble hats. Made in the softest grey wool, but given extra ‘pop’ with the use of a variegated bobble. Cool.

My friend, Aunty Louisa has a little birthday coming up (don’t worry she won’t read this), and she loves an excellent cup of tea. I had planned to give her one of the many teacosies I have been obsessively making. It then occurred to me that actually I could make it Liberty inspired. Totally appropriate for her and it satisfies my inner thrift monster. Job done.

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Fashionista Jogging Hat

I heard on the grapevine that Little J might not get much of a look-in wearing his Highlighter Hat. So I decided that Miss Fashionista needed her own version. This is a larger version of my go-to crochet baby hat. But this one has a cool neon edging. Both on-trend and practical when out jogging on dark autumn nights! x

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Hats for Boys #2 – The Highlighter Hat

With this second hat I was wise enough to ask its destined owner what his opinion was of a ‘bobble’. ‘No THANK YOU!’ said J. Little B nodded sagely in agreement and they marched off together to be storm troopers or one of the Skywalker family.

I looked at J’s mother in exasperation. You see this hat is really made for my fashionista friend, she knows that the neon highlighter yellow is very cool at the moment, she also knows that the bobble is making a ironic come-back. Yet what we don’t know apparently is that a bobble on the top of your beanie hat ‘feels a bit weird when you shake your head’. Plus I think there is a fine line between cool and weird in the playground – so there ends the argument.

If you are wanting to make your own highligther hat. I used a double strand of King Cole Dolly Mix (Acid) and some Sirdar Hayfield Bonus Chunky in Light Grey. I would also make an outrageously shaggy bobble to finish this little snuggly hat off.

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