Curls, Reviewed.

Curls, Versatile, wearable wraps to knit at any gauge

by Hunter Hammersen

Curls, A Confection

I waited until I received hard copies* (two, Hunter is nothing if not generous) to look at this confection from Hunter Hammersen. When I use the term confection it is not to make light of this work; rather it is to express that it is a perfect blending of butter and sugar and flour that makes it a delicious thing that you should own.

I encourage you to buy the Curls set–digital and hard copy. Hunter expresses her work beautifully in pictures that deserve a place on your bookshelf. However, you will want the digital version to be able to print each pattern as you make it.

Curls, The Content

Please take the very short amount of time needed to read the pages before the patterns begin.  It is here that you hear Hunter’s voice, which is part of the unique charm of all that she does. Once you get to the patterns, you can mostly just follow along because they are each clearly presented in exactly the way explained. The patterns are presented in modular chart form (as will as having links to Stitch Maps versions of each). Even for someone (me) with difficulty following regular charts these are straightforward.

The shawls are designed to be workable at any gauge. Fingering weight is clearly Hunter’s sweet spot, but sport and worsted are also shown. You are on your own on for final dimensions, yarn quantities, and needle size if you work at another gauge, but otherwise I cannot see a real problem doing so.

My own personal preference is for the highly textural pieces where interesting edges occur due to the stitch pattern; it seems these would be the most interesting to knit as well, but the less textural pieces are likely more suitable for yarns with color variation, which will provide all the surface interest needed.

I immediately cast on a sample piece using the Infuscate pattern in Civility 2-ply SockTwist from Elemental Affects (this yarn is not currently available). This will undoubtedly become something much bigger because it got my brain racing with ideas. The stitch pattern is nice to look at and straightforward to follow. I had grasped the entire concept of Curls before I got too far on this swatch.

Then I decided to actually make a Curls. I wanted to try a worsted weight, but the yarn I chose (Homage, Shalimar Yarns) turned out to be a dk weight. I began Icterine and we’ll see what I get with the 255 yards I have. Again, with the concept of how these pieces build and are worked, this is fairly simple to work.

Curls, the Review

There is undoubtedly more than one piece in here that most knitters will enjoy making and for many, there are more than that. I think these patterns will unwittingly add to your repertoire of knitting skills and quite likely make you excited about working them. They are a wonderful way to use skeins you purchased and have no idea of what to make with them. They are perfect gift knitting, or just knitting for knitting fun’s sake.

Do be forewarned that these are presented solely as charts with some instruction, but not written stitch patterns.

Curls, the *Giveaway

You might be one of two lucky winners, but if you aren’t, please buy the book anyway.

It turns out that all I want is the electronic copy, so here is where the two hard copies are going:

• You will be eligible to be in the drawing for a copy of Curls, by Hunter Hammersen, if you join the email list for Bust Your $tash with Jill Wolcott Knits^® ( Email us! to get added). This copy may become yours during the drawing at noon PST on January 31, 2015.
• You will be eligible to be in the drawing for the second copy of Curls, by Hunter Hammersen, if you become a subscriber to Bust Your $tash with Jill Wolcott Knits^®. Subscription information will be available here beginning January 30, 2015. The drawing will occur at noon on February 15, 2015.

Enjoy this confection!