drumroll please, it's hat of the week...

Sorry for the delay, the dog ate my computer.

So, it was a stunningly close hat of the week last week.

The creatively titled competitiors were "the flower that looks a bit like a lion", aka Dandelion (geddit? DandeLION?), and, an oldy but a goody, the Christmas pud, aka "51 days to go".

Dandelion took an amazing 56.46% of the vote, with "51 days to go" finishing a brave second.

Congratulations Bev from Derby, you did a spectacuraarrrrr job. A case of smoothies will be winging themselves to you.
 

swans or teas? the nation holds its breath

Swans?

 

or tea?

 

Swans?

Or tea?

What'll it be? Swans? Or Tea?

We gather in hushed awe as the voting figures filter through from the central computer.

Swans or tea? Swans or tea? It's almost too much to bare, what'll it be?

Ladies and gentlemen, this weeks winner with 71.28% of the vote.

Swans.

Congratulations Pip from London town, a deserved victory. Smoothies on their way to you

if you go down to the woods today...

 

You're unlikely to see a bear. They don't grow over here. Something to do with infertile soil and a lack of sunlight. However, if you go down to our blog today you will see a bear. Edward T Bear to be precise, winner of last week's hat of the week vote. We spoke to Edward to find out how he felt about the win.

"I feel good," he gruffed. "I mean, I've got to give credit to the opposition, Pretty Petunia, for putting up such a brave fight. I really was stretched, and tired near the end there. But the long hours I've put in at the gym with my trainer, Louise, really paid off, and in the end I think I deserved it."

Edward's efforts were rewarded with a belt of solid honey, whilst his trainer, Louise 'Apollo Creed' Butcher, will be receiving a bunch of innocent goodies. 

Marvellous.
 

drum roll please...

Ladies and gentleman, boys and girls the announcement you've all been waiting for. In just a few short moments we'll be able to bring you, live from this very blog post, the results of this weeks 'Hat of the Week' competition.

The votes have been counted and verified by our independent adjudicator and you could cut the air with a knife such is the palpable sense of tension.

Without further ado. The winner is...

...weirdly long pause...

fumble with envelope...

Big Bee Hive by Kerri from Essex

 

Now let's all sit back and enjoy this montage of Kerri and Big Bee Hive Hat leaping about in celebration, set possibly to Westlife's 'You raise me up'.

It's a beautiful thing indeed.

Kerri, a case of our finest and our heartiest congratulations. Well done you and well done Big Bee Hive Hat.

the crowd holds its breath

...and the winner of last week's hat of the week is.....

Herbert Hoodie knitted by the marvelous Rachel Phillips. Herbert stormed to victory pulling in no fewer than 1209 votes.

Rachel, you have our undying admiration and a place on the coveted plinth. Perhaps most excitingly of all there's a case of our finest making its way to you as we speak.

If you fancy knocking Rachel off the top spot then you know what to do. We've a huge target to make this year so please do keep sending in those hats, hooded or otherwise. Anyone searching for a source of inspiration can do much worse than having a look here at our Flickr Big Knit Pool. We think the Fortis Knitters could be in for a 'highly commended' ribbon when their hats arrive.

and the hat of the week goes to...

Last week, Pigtail Penny and Sunshine Sheila did battle for the coveted title of Hat of the Week.

Sunshine Sheila donned the yellow sunflower hat and using the broad rim and glowing centre, shone like the sun from her side of the ring.

On the other side, Pigtail Penny, with her lustrous brown locks and twinkling blue eyes, pulled out some street style drop kicks and the odd half nelson here and there.

The crowd were going wild, Penny and Sheila were locking hats until suddenly, Pigtail Penny went for the upper cut straight into the roundhouse move and whupped Sunshine Sheila into Tuesday. 

Congratulations to her trainer, Hazel from Watford, for helping Penny win Hat of the Week. A case of delicious smoothies are winging their merry way to you right now.

the first Big Knit 'Hat of the Week' of 2009

Last week we officially reinstated the thrilling 'Hat of the Week' competition. Each and every week we'll select the crème of the woolly hatted crop and ask you to vote for your . Sort of like X Factor but without the premium rate phone calls. The winning hat will then take pride of place on the plinth in reception and the proud knitter will win a case of our finest drinks. Maybe there'll be some sort of grand hat-off in November. Who knows where it'll take us?  

Going head to head last week we had the Virtual Insanity Jamiroquai inspired hat from Alison of the 'Priddy Purlers' and the 'Majestic Mouse' from Mrs Joan Lockett. Who was first to the claim the coveted spot upon the plinth of purlfection? The crowd holds its breath. Presenting the winner of 2009's first Hat of the Week competition... 'Majestic Mouse'.

  

Well done Mrs Lockett. A case of our finest is on its way to you as we speak.  To vote on this weeks entries just click here. Dust off your needles and grab the nearest sheep. It's time to start knitting.

hat bag hat bag hat bag (and a pair of tights)

Knitting a little hat out of wool wasn't wasn't quite enough for Mrs. Gawthrop. Oh no. She single handedly cast aside the century old practice of sheep wool production by sending us this hat knitted from a Sainsbury's carrier bag and an old pair of tights (clean). Thereby recycling and helping to raise money for Age Concern at the same time. You pushed a boundary, Mrs. Gawthrop, you redefined wool and discombobulated our imaginations.

For these reasons, please accept our humble title of hat of the week.

We'll be voting on the hat of the year next week. Oh yes, it's going to be a hell of a battle, so watch this space.

fairy nice

A wild shock of purple hair. A glittering pair of silver moon boots. Two pet toadstools. The biggest, blingest brooch you've ever seen - there's not really much to dislike about this fairytale woodland scene. And it's all happening on top of a little knitted hat. To pick a favourite from the incredible selection of hats that Edith Webb sent us was no easy task. There were pirates, witches, chickens, even Goldie Locks and the Three Bears. All of them stunning in their own right, and all perfectly knitted. We got so excited we had to display the entire collection on a table in fruit towers, for all to enjoy. But we liked the little fairies and their toadstools the best. The toadstools look big and red. The fairy looks very content. And there's something endearing about the way her little legs poke out from that hat. "Look at my new boots," she seems to be saying, "aren't they just wonderful?" They are indeed purple haired fairy. A fine choice of footwear. So nice in fact we're going to make you hat of the week. Well done.

the wooliest hat ever

It's a ram and it's covered in wool. But it's also a hat made of wool. It's really very layered indeed. Are those a honking set of mutton chops we see? Or are they horns? Is it cruel to call a ram's sideburns mutton chops? It probably is. How can we make it up to you fine ram - if we make you hat of the week will you stop staring at us so intensely with that big old left eye of yours? Probably not, but we're going to make you hat of the week anyway, on account of the fact you've been beautifully knitted. Tidy needlework Pat Rawcliffe - you sure know how to knit a good ram.