Pretty in Punk

Did you covet the hat with the sewn-in mohawk worn by Depeche Mode’s Martin L. Gore? Well, now you can make your own.

Alyce Benevides and Jaqueline Milles founded Knit-Head, a punk rock knitwear line, and Pretty in Punk offers instructions for 25 punk knitting projects like “Combat Rocker” arm warmers and “Union Jack” ass flaps.

The designs are as entertaining as they are wearable so long as you have the requisite attitude. Benevides and Milles claim Vivienne Westwood and John Galliano as inspirations and the influence shows. Pretty in Punk is bursting with colorful photos of diverse models vamping for the camera in stylish tongue-in-cheek clothes and glam accessories.

The mohawk hat may be the item that introduced Knit-Head to the music world, but there are plenty of other quirky designs such as wrist cuffs and pocket patches along with more typical fare like sweaters, tote bags, and miniskirts.

Thankfully, the knitting duo approaches the topic with levity, which is helpful in a book that can be campy and absurd. This book is accessible and contains instructions, patterns, and illustrations to guide readers.

Be prepared to bring along your knitting needles, colorful yarn, and a sense of humor. Pretty in Punk knows that fashion and music is nothing if not fun. Knitting used to be associated with old ladies but the new DIY culture has produced a lot of young innovators.

- Rihoko Ueno

Pretty in Punk
Alyce Benevides and Jaqueline Milles
Paperback, 120 pages
$19.95, Chronicle Books
knit-head.com