Hat Heads

By Trond Anfinnsen
Watson-Guptill, $22.95, 176 pages

A guy with knitting needles… as an American reader this concept seems slightly odd. The Norwegian-sounding name incurs a bit of interest, however; reading the cheerful prologue alleviates any initial impression of the “peculiar.” In Norway, making sweaters and other woolen items, like hats, socks and gloves is apparently a national pastime. One finds out that knitting is so common an activity there (and necessary due to the extremely cold climate) that it is generally categorized alongside eating and sleeping.

The self-proclaimed motives for Anfinnsen’s sudden interest in knitting hats encompass simple principles: something artistic to do with his hands while remaining in a state of mental rest. Catching on rather quickly to the art of making cozy hats, the author added yet another aspect…custom chapeaus for his friends, family and anyone else that wanted one, given away for free. Along with a collaborative photographer, Klaus Skrudland, Anfinnsen exuberantly knitted and displayed 200+ hats, each unique. Even the mayor of his town received a hat and wears it proudly. The faces pictured present a captivating montage of expressions. Readers are allowed into the author’s circle of friends, each wearing their hat above a few sentences about their personality.The one drawback of the book is that the majority of the interior photographs are black and white, so the writer’s allusions to various use of color are a bit lost.

With 50 hat “patterns” and helpful tips for beginning knitters, this book makes an inspirational gift for folks of all ages. The author’s adventures in knitting remind us that a true hobby is one of selflessness as well as enthusiasm, and that artistic passion is no less expressed when the results are given away freely.

Reviewed by Meredith Greene