Do you like the Dead Fish hat? Then you might like Thelma Egberts' other designs too. Thelma is a Dutch knitter and casual designer. She gets inspired by nature, history and ethnic knitting styles and traditions.
She also has a thing for weird and funny hats. That's why most of her designs are hats, though occasionally other small items slip in too. Go get your feet wet!
Swimming and knitting at your own risk! Float around a bit or jump to hat patterns or scarf or sock patterns right away.
For more Fishy patterns visit Fishy's own website
April 22, 2013
Finally! I have just updated the Llama Basic Hat pattern. It's finally available as PDF now. But what's more, it is now much easier to knit the ears. I have always found that the hardest part of this hat. But in fact it is supersimple. You just have to knit a few stitches in waste yarn at the place the ears will be worked. When you unravel that yarn later, you have live stitches to 'build' the ears upon. Go have a try!
January 16, 2013
It's snowing in the Netherlands. The perfect time to publish a new mitten pattern. If you are a fast knitter, you can wear them before it all melts away again. You can buy the pattern for $ 2,00 on Ravelry.
These mittens do not only keep your hands warm, but also your heart. They are inspired by the love letters, that some of us have received from (French) admirers. If not, the postal theme as such may attract you.
Since princess Maxima of the Netherlands wore an outfit completely made of old mail bags, the postal theme became a hype among (Dutch) crafters. The coarse hessian bags with red-white-blue bands get recycled into trendy shopping bags, pillows, girls dresses and even stroller lining. The mail bags themselves have become hard to find.
Luckily knitters don’t have to hunt for old bags. Yarn is all they need to make these postal themed mittens. The words 'Priorité' and 'Par Avion' give them a French twist, so they may bring up memories of love letters from French admirers. Especially since they are sealed with a kiss – a separate knitted heart sewn onto each mitten.
To emphasize the recycle style, both mittens are different. You can even ‘assemble’ each mitten to your personal liking. Pick a cuff, choose a mitten body, and knit the mitten top you prefer. (Of course you can knit both mittens alike.)
January 8, 2013
Do you remember him?
This is what he looks now:
Much better looking, isn't he? 'Plastic surgeon' Frans did a wonderful job. Now I have a great 'head' for modelling male hats!
I have called him Djengiz, because he reminds me of an Azian warrior.
Here you can see him on the job - not as a warrior, but as a model of course: 
November 2012
Here's my latest design: Double Daisy. This girls hat combines two simple yet beautiful lace stitches, both named after daisies. For the edging ‘chain of daisies’ is used, combined with the ‘field of daisy’ for the body. The body is bordered with another chain of daisies, followed by a striped, slouchy crown. This combination creates a hat that is both sweet and cheerful. The pattern is for sale (for only 2 dollar/1,53 euros) at Ravelry.
August 2012
One of my patterns, Stroller, was published in KnitNow magazine. When you don't live in the UK, you may have missed that magazine. No worries, you can now buy most patterns from the magazine separatly through Ravelry. Stroller is a snood-cowl combination that can be worn in various ways. It has interesting shaping (that reminds of the cap of a stroller!) and a fun and easy lace pattern.
Buy now (clicking this link will take you to Ravelry).
Do you know KnitNow? It's a great, (fairly) new Brittish knitting magazine, that specializes in small knitting patterns like hats, mittens and scarfs.
July 2012
Finally Bricolage is here, my newest hat pattern for men: 
"Do you often get disappointed when you ask a guy in your life what hat you should knit him? You hope for an interesting and inspiring knit. He answers something like: “Just a simple rib hat please, nothing fancy.”
If that’s the case, Bricolage may be the hat that makes you both happy. It’s a sort of rib hat (his wish) but not just a simple one (your wish). The stitch pattern is interesting but not very difficult. What keeps you going is how the stitch pattern changes every 8 rounds. In fact, knitting this hat is a bit like building bricks."
Remember I told you about Radbout and Raphael who modelled for this hat on the isle of Tenerife? Here are their pictures:
The pattern is sold through Ravelry for 2 euros ($).
Some more info about the pattern:
- Finished measurements: Circumference: 50 cm (unstretched) Height till crown: 13.5 cm Total height: 21 cm.
- Gauge: 14 sts/38 rows = 10 cm (4") in pattern stitch.
- Yarn: Phildar Taiga
- Cast on: two colored braided cast on
March 2012
Models on a holiday
We went on holiday to Tenerife this break, mostly to enjoy the sun and warmth. It was also a good occasion to photograph a few of my new designs. As we spend our vacation with 15 family members and friends, I had some extra models at hand. Like my niece Julie and nephew Raphael, who are from the French-Dutch branch of the Egberts family. Usually I have to bribe my daughter Emma to pose for me, but these two were quite willing be of assistance. At least Julie couldn’t say No anyway, as she’s the one who always plunders my hat stash when she’s in the Netherlands. (She does have a great face for hats, so I let her.)
Tropical location, cooperative models and all, arranging a photo shoot still was not that easy. It was hard to find the time to do so. After all, my models were not in Tenerife to pose for their amateur knitwear designer aunt. They preferred sleeping out till midday above modelling.
Julie finally was pictured in the last rays of sunlight on her last evening at the isle. She wore Fair Kate,my version of the famous Fairly Legal hat. Raphael was pictured on our own last day, together with our friend Radboud. They wear the Bricolage hat, while sitting on a rocky pier at Playa Fanabe beach.
Niece Joy was very willing to get pictured wearing the (yet nameless) eyemask I just designed. But we just didn’t find the time. So I’m afraid I will have to bribe Emma again!
Not for sissies
Speaking of new models…I took a new male model home from Tenerife too! Or only his head, to be honest. It’s the head of a shop window model, that we found in the garbage of a closed down fashion store. The guy must have had a rough live, because he was not only decapitated, he also broke his cheekbone and lost one of his eye lashed (Oh dear). Who said male modeling is for sissies? I took him home in my hand luggage and to my surprise I didn’t have any trouble passing security.
A friend of mine, who makes and repaires plaster statues may be able to fix my new head model too. Maybe he can do something about the strange shape of his upper head as well, because he looks scalped.
Any suggestions for a name for my new friend?
Here's a picture of James Dean, my other model head. He was bought on a flee market. Because of his (former) rock&roll quiff, I couldn't use him for showing hats, like I wanted. This friend cut away the quiff and fixed it very well. Still James is not up to the job because on the sides his head is too big also. So in comes the Tenerife quy.
Februari 2012
Do you know KnitNow? It's a great, (fairly) new Brittish knitting magazine, that specializes in small knitting patterns like hats, mittens and scarfs.
KnitNow 5/2012 is just out now. And one of the patterns in it, is designed by Thelma. It's Stroller, a snood-cowl combination that can be worn in various ways. It has interesting shaping (that reminds of the cap of a stroller!) and a fun and easy lace pattern. Here are some pictures:
This picture is from KnitNow:
These are two Strollers Thelma knitted when designing the pattern: 
This photo shows the shaping of Stroller:
Februari 2012
Did you knit the Tortora hat from Knitty? And would you like a cowl to go with it? Here's a pattern for that.
Testknitters are kindly invited!
December 2011
Good news for Italian knitters who prefer knitting patterns in their native language. Two of Thelma's patterns have been translated in Italian recently. The Dead fish hat (or should I say Pesce cappello, morto?) was translated by Aurelia (Lana-Luna at Ravelry) and the Small Hills Hat turned into XXX thanks to Trappy. Both Ravelers are member of the Italian Translator Group Traduzioni da Ravelry. So if there's any pattern you would like in Italian too, ask them! They do a good job and love to translate...and to knit of course.
Click for Small Hills Hat
Click for Pesce cappello
Click for Aurelia's other translations
Pesce Cappello vivo, knitted by Aurelia
October 2011
Twitter
The hat that looks like a bird
October 2011
BBB bag
Do you find knitting a bag too time consuming? Not this bag! It's knit in bulky yarn and big needles. And it looks interesting and funny too, with its big bobbles. Hence the name BBB, Bulky Bobbly Bag. You may know those bobbles already from theTortora hat in Knitty first fall 2011. This bag uses the same stitch, only it is not knit in the round.
October 2011
Snelle Annabelle. The cowl to warm you up very fast!
Autumn has arrived. Time to wrap yourself up in warm, hand knitted garments. Especially Thelma’s eldest daughter was in need of knitwear to keep her warm during her bike rides to school. She asked her mother for a cowl that she could wrap around her neck at least two times. And if mummy please would hurry up because she’s freezing! So Thelma took her 9 mm needles and very bulky yarn. In two days Snelle Annabelle was designed and knitted. Now Dear Daughter wears it every day!
‘Snelle’ is Dutch for ‘fast’. So if you are very much in a hurry too, to warm yourself or someone els, go knit Snelle Annabelle!'
Ribbed Annabelle
Would you prefer an Annabelle without curling edges? Then try Ribbed Annabelle, a variation made by Ravelry's Breipret.
August 2011
Dolkar: the grown up Angmo!
Dolkar is here! It's the grown up version of Angmo. It has the same leaf lace pattern, but the looks of a newsboy cap, or rasta hat if you please. It's an easy, interesting knit and...you don't need to stiffen the brim!
June 28, 2011
Knitty First Fall is up, with Thelma's Tortora pattern!
"Do you like bobbles? Then this may be the hat for you. Its textured look is formed by alternating purled bobbles with vertical knit lines. Those bobbles are worked in an uncommon and interesting way. Yarn overs help you to increase 5 stitches out of 1. After a few rows, those 5 stitches are deceased back to 1 again. It’s real fun to do!
I first saw this kind of bobbles in a picture of a Peruvian girl wearing a knitted cap. I was intrigued to find out how these bobbles were made. After I did, they inspired me to design a bobbly hat of my own.
I named it Tortora, after the reed that grows around Lake Titicaca where the girl was pictured. The vertical stitches look like reed and the bobbles like their fluffy flowers. "
NB: The Tortora pattern in Knitty is only charted. Do you prefer the written pattern, click here.
Below: This is the picture it the pattern stitch was based upon. It was made by Flickr photographer Pperpol. Thelma wrote a pattern for this hat too, meant for baby's, toddlers and young children. It's called Tortora Child.
June 9, 2011
Sea-of-Knits proudly presents Rib Eye! A new pattern for a slouchy hat with an interesting pattern stitch and a long, well fitting brim.
Finished measurements: Circumference: 50 cm (unstretched) Height till crown: 13.5 cm Total height: 21 cm.
Yarn: Phildar Taiga
Gauge: 14 sts/38 rows = 10 cm (4") in pattern stitch.
height: 21 cm.
Yarn: Phildar Taiga
Gauge: 14 sts/38 rows = 10 cm (4") in pattern stitch.
Finished measurements: Circumference: 50 cm (unstretched) Height till crown: 13.5 cm Total height: 21 cm.
Yarn: Phildar Taiga
Finished measurements: Circumference: 50 cm (unstretched) Height till crown: 13.5 cm Total height: 21 cm.
Do you know KnitNow? It's a great, (fairly) new Brittish knitting magazine, that specializes in small knitting patterns like hats, mittens and scarfs.
KnitNow 5/2012 is just out now. And one of the patterns in it, is designed by Thelma. It's Stroller, a snood-cowl combination that can be worn in various ways. It has interesting shaping (that reminds of the cap of a stroller!) and a fun and easy lace pattern. Here are some pictures:
Older blog items
August 2012
One of my patterns, Stroller, was published in KnitNow magazine. When you don't live in the UK, you may have missed that magazine. No worries, you can now buy most patterns from the magazine separatly through Ravelry. Stroller is a snood-cowl combination that can be worn in various ways. It has interesting shaping (that reminds of the cap of a stroller!) and a fun and easy lace pattern.
Buy now (clicking this link will take you to Ravelry).
July 2012
Finally Bricolage is here, my newest hat pattern for men:
"Do you often get disappointed when you ask a guy in your life what hat you should knit him? You hope for an interesting and inspiring knit. He answers something like: “Just a simple rib hat please, nothing fancy.”
If that’s the case, Bricolage may be the hat that makes you both happy. It’s a sort of rib hat (his wish) but not just a simple one (your wish). The stitch pattern is interesting but not very difficult. What keeps you going is how the stitch pattern changes every 8 rounds. In fact, knitting this hat is a bit like building bricks."
Remember I told you about Radbout and Raphael who modelled for this hat on the isle of Tenerife? Here are their pictures:
The pattern is sold through Ravelry for 2 euros ($).
Some more info about the pattern:
- Finished measurements: Circumference: 50 cm (unstretched) Height till crown: 13.5 cm Total height: 21 cm.
- Gauge: 14 sts/38 rows = 10 cm (4") in pattern stitch.
- Yarn: Phildar Taiga
- Cast on: two colored braided cast on
March 2012
Models on a holiday
We went on holiday to Tenerife this break, mostly to enjoy the sun and warmth. It was also a good occasion to photograph a few of my new designs. As we spend our vacation with 15 family members and friends, I had some extra models at hand. Like my niece Julie and nephew Raphael, who are from the French-Dutch branch of the Egberts family. Usually I have to bribe my daughter Emma to pose for me, but these two were quite willing be of assistance. At least Julie couldn’t say No anyway, as she’s the one who always plunders my hat stash when she’s in the Netherlands. (She does have a great face for hats, so I let her.)
Tropical location, cooperative models and all, arranging a photo shoot still was not that easy. It was hard to find the time to do so. After all, my models were not in Tenerife to pose for their amateur knitwear designer aunt. They preferred sleeping out till midday above modelling.
Julie finally was pictured in the last rays of sunlight on her last evening at the isle. She wore Fair Kate,my version of the famous Fairly Legal hat. Raphael was pictured on our own last day, together with our friend Radboud. They wear the Bricolage hat, while sitting on a rocky pier at Playa Fanabe beach.
Niece Joy was very willing to get pictured wearing the (yet nameless) eyemask I just designed. But we just didn’t find the time. So I’m afraid I will have to bribe Emma again!
Not for sissies
Speaking of new models…I took a new male model home from Tenerife too! Or only his head, to be honest. It’s the head of a shop window model, that we found in the garbage of a closed down fashion store. The guy must have had a rough live, because he was not only decapitated, he also broke his cheekbone and lost one of his eye lashed (Oh dear). Who said male modeling is for sissies? I took him home in my hand luggage and to my surprise I didn’t have any trouble passing security.
A friend of mine, who makes and repaires plaster statues may be able to fix my new head model too. Maybe he can do something about the strange shape of his upper head as well, because he looks scalped.
Any suggestions for a name for my new friend?
Here's a picture of James Dean, my other model head. He was bought on a flee market. Because of his (former) rock&roll quiff, I couldn't use him for showing hats, like I wanted. This friend cut away the quiff and fixed it very well. Still James is not up to the job because on the sides his head is too big also. So in comes the Tenerife quy.
Februari 2012
Do you know KnitNow? It's a great, (fairly) new Brittish knitting magazine, that specializes in small knitting patterns like hats, mittens and scarfs.
KnitNow 5/2012 is just out now. And one of the patterns in it, is designed by Thelma. It's Stroller, a snood-cowl combination that can be worn in various ways. It has interesting shaping (that reminds of the cap of a stroller!) and a fun and easy lace pattern. Here are some pictures:
This picture is from KnitNow:
These are two Strollers Thelma knitted when designing the pattern:
This photo shows the shaping of Stroller:
Februari 2012
Did you knit the Tortora hat from Knitty? And would you like a cowl to go with it? Here's a pattern for that.
Testknitters are kindly invited!
December 2011
Good news for Italian knitters who prefer knitting patterns in their native language. Two of Thelma's patterns have been translated in Italian recently. The Dead fish hat (or should I say Pesce cappello, morto?) was translated by Aurelia (Lana-Luna at Ravelry) and the Small Hills Hat turned into XXX thanks to Trappy. Both Ravelers are member of the Italian Translator Group Traduzioni da Ravelry. So if there's any pattern you would like in Italian too, ask them! They do a good job and love to translate...and to knit of course.
Click for Small Hills Hat
Click for Pesce cappello
Click for Aurelia's other translations
Pesce Cappello vivo, knitted by Aurelia
October 2011
Twitter
The hat that looks like a bird
October 2011
BBB bag
Do you find knitting a bag too time consuming? Not this bag! It's knit in bulky yarn and big needles. And it looks interesting and funny too, with its big bobbles. Hence the name BBB, Bulky Bobbly Bag. You may know those bobbles already from theTortora hat in Knitty first fall 2011. This bag uses the same stitch, only it is not knit in the round.
October 2011
Snelle Annabelle. The cowl to warm you up very fast!
Autumn has arrived. Time to wrap yourself up in warm, hand knitted garments. Especially Thelma’s eldest daughter was in need of knitwear to keep her warm during her bike rides to school. She asked her mother for a cowl that she could wrap around her neck at least two times. And if mummy please would hurry up because she’s freezing! So Thelma took her 9 mm needles and very bulky yarn. In two days Snelle Annabelle was designed and knitted. Now Dear Daughter wears it every day!
‘Snelle’ is Dutch for ‘fast’. So if you are very much in a hurry too, to warm yourself or someone els, go knit Snelle Annabelle!'
Ribbed Annabelle
Would you prefer an Annabelle without curling edges? Then try Ribbed Annabelle, a variation made by Ravelry's Breipret.
August 2011
Dolkar: the grown up Angmo!
Dolkar is here! It's the grown up version of Angmo. It has the same leaf lace pattern, but the looks of a newsboy cap, or rasta hat if you please. It's an easy, interesting knit and...you don't need to stiffen the brim!
June 28, 2011
Knitty First Fall is up, with Thelma's Tortora pattern!
"Do you like bobbles? Then this may be the hat for you. Its textured look is formed by alternating purled bobbles with vertical knit lines. Those bobbles are worked in an uncommon and interesting way. Yarn overs help you to increase 5 stitches out of 1. After a few rows, those 5 stitches are deceased back to 1 again. It’s real fun to do!
I first saw this kind of bobbles in a picture of a Peruvian girl wearing a knitted cap. I was intrigued to find out how these bobbles were made. After I did, they inspired me to design a bobbly hat of my own.
I named it Tortora, after the reed that grows around Lake Titicaca where the girl was pictured. The vertical stitches look like reed and the bobbles like their fluffy flowers. "
NB: The Tortora pattern in Knitty is only charted. Do you prefer the written pattern, click here.
Below: This is the picture it the pattern stitch was based upon. It was made by Flickr photographer Pperpol. Thelma wrote a pattern for this hat too, meant for baby's, toddlers and young children. It's called Tortora Child.
June 9, 2011
Sea-of-Knits proudly presents Rib Eye! A new pattern for a slouchy hat with an interesting pattern stitch and a long, well fitting brim.
Finished measurements: Circumference: 50 cm (unstretched) Height till crown: 13.5 cm Total height: 21 cm.
Yarn: Phildar Taiga
Gauge: 14 sts/38 rows = 10 cm (4") in pattern stitch.
height: 21 cm.
Yarn: Phildar Taiga
Gauge: 14 sts/38 rows = 10 cm (4") in pattern stitch.
Finished measurements: Circumference: 50 cm (unstretched) Height till crown: 13.5 cm Total height: 21 cm.
Yarn: Phildar Taiga
Finished measurements: Circumference: 50 cm (unstretched) Height till crown: 13.5 cm Total height: 21 cm.