I've finished the shako for my Prussian-style military outfit as some of you know, but I've been having second thoughts on the beauty. It sits fairly jauntily (don't ask how I managed this) on my head...off, I know (haube's need more of a backplate and more of a visor- plus the slope's not as steep as this). But considering that my plastic-ing skills aren't terribly great, what do you guys think?  

Before I return it tonight, is anyone interested in this hat?

...with that extreme undercut, ready for trimming down and finishing! It's an odd shape on its own, but here i've taken my excess felt and pinned a sculptural element onto it, a la 1940s-style hats from flat felt. What do you think? Another of Randy's new-to-him blocks--check out that hook to keep the block together. It's so easy to drop (and damage) a puzzle block by unthinkingly picking...

Both of these hats were made the same way :) The hats are constructed of double-sided buckram with wire sewn in around the brim to help keep their shape. The hats have been covered with a cotton fabric and is also lined with a cotton fabric. Exquisite European ribbon have been spun around the crowns. The full sized is a custom test for a customer.

This is Mark and the pupz at Culloden.  We made excellent time going up on Friday, and stopped off at the battlesite before going on to find our B&B.  Fabulous weather for most of the drive North.  And...there's a book on megaliths under my bed, and I'm planning to get him a kilt.  He has the legs for a kilt.  I shall knit kilt-hose.... Th is is where we stayed .  All the Orkney photos are here ...

See such a better model ;)

I've been having some fun knitting hats for my Sackboy. Since he's small, his hats are tiny and that means quick, instantly gratifying knits. I've already posted the snow hat with pom pom, but the striped beanie and the earflap ones I knit this past week. The black and grey striped beanie I made so that it resembles a unisex beanie I bought several years ago (before I learned to knit). The orange...

For the first time in forever I'm going to start with a wants list because I have received my first paycheck in nearly a year, and it's gooood! Well it was when it first went in before I gave over half...Ball Pens (new, unused bar test & all working!) - £1 'Jennifer' Stickers by Bubblegum (new & sealed) - 25p Misc Universal Travel Plug - £1 Waterproof Rubber Sealed Swim Thingy - £1

... But, really, this is the main reason why the movie caught my fancy: The hat. It's called a cloche hat, and were it not for Google I would still keep referring to as "you know, the kind of hats the flappers wore in the 1920's." So this triggered a vague but growing itch for a hat, especially since I will be travelling to Prague and Vienna, where it is cold. But I've long admired hats,...