I don’t often see the words “Top Gun” and “embroidered” in the same sentence. The combination brings to mind a cut-throat needlework academy – a place where high-flying crafting hopefuls train their way to the top, and break all the rules doing it. But, I digress. This week, I finished the embroidered knit project I had been working on for February.
The Task
The beau’s cousin, J, recently asked if I could knit him and his best friend a pair of matching caps. Children of the 80s, J and his pal are both big fans of the 1986 film Top Gun. I admit: what I know about the plot comes very second-hand. I haven’t redressed my lack of knowledge by watching it, but in the film “Iceman” (Val Kilmer) and “Maverick” (Tom Cruise) are fierce aviation-school rivals who develop a loyal wingmen friendship by the end. They also happen to be J and his pal’s favourite on-screen buddies. The knitting request was simple: could I knit 2 caps – an “Iceman” and “Maverick” hat for J and his pal, respectively? Knowing little about Top Gun fandom myself, I liked the idea of making something in the name of friendship while trying some new knitting techniques.
The Caps
I chose to knit the Scraptastic hat pattern, using size 3 needles and two strands of fingering weight held together. At my gauge (slightly looser than the pattern), Medium turned out good, though a tad roomier than I expected. I knit the subsequent hat in Small for a closer fit.
The Graph
Given full creative hat-design leeway, I thought that using the movie logo would be 80s nostalgic while channeling a little bit of the irony of a knit-embroidery tribute to a movie about fighter pilots.
I used Stitch Fiddle to graph my design out. It allows you to enter your gauge (over 4″/10 cm) to render a grid that reflects your particular tension for making colour work charts. Stockinette stitches tend to be a little wider than they are tall. Because of this, using square-box graph paper to plan a design may result in a slightly skewed final project. Programs like Stitch Fiddle allow for a better idea of what the finished design will actually look like. It’s simple to use; rows and columns are added and deleted with a mouse click. It’s like Excel for your DIY colourwork, embroidery, and cross-stitch projects. All I have to say is “yes!” to this indispensable online tool, and others like it.
The Embroidery
Just a single strand of fingering weight and some duplicate stitching was enough to do the trick. I eased into embroidering slowly, working on the hats during free moments during the day. I tend to find my stitching stride best at night, after dinner. The fluid motions of embroidery, and the vigilance to tension, develop a finger-tip attentiveness to the materials quite different from knitting. In contrast to the hardy, elastic, and structured fabric of knitting, embroidered things feel a bit more fragile and precarious to me – until they’re done, my m.o. is to handle with care.
Less exciting was weaving in all the ends. I learned late in the game to use a single long strand to embroider multiple letters, rather than cutting my strand after each character.
Also, I personally find it best to work the duplicate stitch from the bottom to top, starting at the base of a letter, then working up and across. It’s just a little neater that way, I find.
Finally, the Top Gun hats
On the way…
And done.
All in all, this was a fun project. It’s hard not to see blank stockinette surfaces as a canvas for some stitchery waiting to happen. It was a surprise for the knitting to unexpectedly serve as a gateway to embroidery.
To embroidering, and matching hats…and friends!
That came out to well! I think you may be the master of duplicate stitch!
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Thanks, Melissa. 🙂 It’s a really fun technique, and the hats make me smile. Happy Friday!
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This is absolutely the BEST!!! You totally rocked the hat request. I’m seriously impressed!! 😀
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Thanks, Melinda, for reading. I’m happy with how the project turned out (though the *back* is a bit of a tangle at the moment). 🙂 I’m looking forward to reading more of your sweater-knitting news. Happy Friday!
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These are awesome! You really nailed the logo, nice work! 😀
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Thanks, Helen! And now to find some time to watch the movie… 🙂
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Hahaha! It might make for some good knitting radio, maybe…
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haha, yes. The hunt for photo-references and such (‘research’, lol) has left me intrigued by the TG saga. 🙂
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Heehee, enjoy! I remember quite liking the parody, Hot Shots, that came out a few years afterwards… Mind you, it’s probably nearly -eeeeek!- 20 years since I last saw it 😳
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AMAZING! You are one talented lady Shirley. These are so awesome. Hmmm, getting the urge to watch topgun. It’s been ages. 🙂
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Another fan then. Luckily not too naff to admit it!
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Thanks, Moira. 🙂 I’ll have to do the same (I will check hoopla for it) :). Happy weekend!
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So cool! I admit I was a big Top Gun fan. As I write this I am imagining Maverick riding up to his tutor’s house on his motorbike, leather jacket, wind in his hair. And remember the scene in the bar scene ‘You’ve lost that loving feeling’, a long time ago someone sang that to me in a crowded bar knowing I’d been a Top Gun Fan! Memories!! Great hats and great instructions too.
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Thanks for reading and stopping by. That is so wild, and how I imagine the mood of the movie. I’ll have to find a way to watch it! I’m happy to read that the caps bring back fond memories of being serenaded! Looking forward to following more craft news from you. 🙂
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These look fantastic, so professional! And fun too.
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Thank you! Yes, I hope the friends getting them have a good time with these. 🙂
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impressive!!! I have watched that movie so many times!
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Haha. I hope the caps are doing Iceman + Maverick justice. Thanks, Tierney. 🙂
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I *love* these and they turned out great, better than the movie!
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Haha, thanks! I’d take knitting over fighter pilots any day, that’s for sure. 🙂
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These are awesome!! I’m a huge Top Gun fan…obviously 😛
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Thanks for stopping by, Iman! I’m so glad that a Top Gun fan approves. 🙂
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Wow! These hats are amazing! You do beautiful work!
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Thank you, Robin, for the kind words. Looking forward to more crochet news! 🙂
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