Hankerin' for Hats

This post was meant for very early in the month, to coincide with the start of September's Whiplash competition at Whipup.net, where the theme was "hats," but so much for good intentions. Not only did I not get this post completed and up, I didn't even get my own hat started; it remains nothing but an idea knocking

^--a collage of my recently knit hats--^

about my cranium.* But I do love hats, yes I do, so I'm offering this selection of head-topping inspirations for your perusal and enjoyment.

Entries in the Whiplash hat challenge:

• from Sarah + h - Flapper hats
• the mini (and I mean mini) Santa hat from greetingarts
• from Less Stitch More Bitch, a crochet Tossed Salad hat
• a boytoque from phila*craft
• and my favorite: Liette, a Marie Antoinette wig-hat from the fabled needle
  

Be sure to check out the Whipup site for more inspired hat creations and past Whiplashes; I only listed a few here. Then if you are a member of Whipup, vote for your personal fave. There is all kinds of cool schwag for the winners, including booty from my friend Natasha's shop, Luxe.

For more inspiration, I offer up these links for hatmakers extraordinaire:

• The Art of the Handknit Hat - a Flickr group
• Crazy Aunt Purl's tutorial for making the Brangelina Hat
• StudioLoo hats
• The hats of Elina Saari at Felt Faction
• Anna Voog's hats - everyone must know of her fanciful hats, but gotta put her in
  

If you missed it, don't forget to check out my post on knitting wigs, which although technically not hats, are like hats, because, well, they go on your head. Same as a hat!

Lastly, I found this article by (Australian?) journalist Deborah Cameron, who is seeking an audience with a member, any member, of the Japanese Royal Family. She, upon learning that the pregnant Princess Kiko is an avid knitter, knit a baby bonnet in the royal colors (green and yellow) for the new Prince, Hisahito, and remains hopeful that someone will contact her for an interview. Go, Deb, Go!

*My idea is an Athena hat - more details to come.

Tags: knitting, hat, whipup, whiplash