Babies, babies, and more babies!

It is that time of year again when people are trying to be skinny to no avail. Some of them have excuses...I, for one, do not. I am in the process of making another baby gift for a friend. She is due at the end of August and so I have put it off too long. This will be her first child and it will be a boy. Boy gifts are a lot harder for me than girl gifts because there is so much to choose from in the way of patterns for girls and even some of the patterns for boys look too girlish to make for a boy. Perhaps that is my own view. My dear husband has deemed himself very much a "manly man" and cannot be bothered with things that would threaten his man card. His answer to all my questions is "fine." What does that mean?!!! Fine is his way of saying "I'm not really paying attention but I'm sure you won't leave me alone unless I give you some kind of answer so I'll give you the most noncommital answer that won't evoke any further conversation." Who knew so much could be in one word. So I knit on...I am making "Tom" from Rowan's archives. It's a little vest and so far I'm a little confused as to how it will turn out. I guess we'll see. I have two more gifts to get started on and finish by December. I suppose that doesn't sound like a lot but at the rate I knit or find the time to knit, it might just take me that long. My biggest problem is in picking out the pattern for the gift. Every time I look at patterns I find something that I'm sure would look so cute on me. I guess I'll have to stop that.

AUSTIN

This is my first pattern so it may be a little sketchy. My wonderful test knitters at Ravelry Chra and SLOrnamentals have been a great help in this process. This pattern is for personal use and not for resale. Please do not copy this pattern or its pictures in any way.

This hat is an oversized hat not meant to be fitted to the head as a proper hat would be. The sizing can easily be adjusted by adding or subtracting 5 sts from the band. It is knit in the round and on DPN's in US size 7 needles with the exception of the brim which was knit with US size 5 needles. It is a very tight knit except for the band so as to give it form and not be too floppy. Should you find any errata please let me know. Thanks

AUSTIN

An oversized newsboy cap. (21 ¾”)

Materials: Worsted weight yarn. Size US 5 straights, size US 7 DPNs, and 16 “ US 7 circs. Yarn needle. 5 markers one different. One safety pin

Gauge: The only gauge I measured was sts per inch because as the type of hat it is, row count should not really matter. 17 sts per 4” single strand st st with size US 7

Band
CO 95(105) one strand with size US 7 16” circ.
PM Join being careful not to twist sts. Knit st st 1 ¾ “. Purl one row then knit st st 1 ¾” and BO leaving 24” tail. Fold, purl side (WS) in tucking loose end in and sew purl sts from RS together. Folded edge or purl row is top.

Hat
Yarn doubled. Pick up 95(105) sts on folded edge and knit 1 row. PM at beg of round. PM every 19(21) or evenly distribute sts between markers..
Row 2: *K2, P to marker . RPT from * 4 more times. Continue for 2”
P2tog on each side of k sts every other row until one or no sts remain between k sts switching to DPNs when necessary. K2tog each set of two knit sts. Cut yarn for finishing. With yarn needle pull yarn end through all sts tightly and finish.

Brim
Size US 5 needles yarn doubled.
Fold hat in half and mark center with pin. Pick up and knit 43(48) sts
Row 1: P 26(29) w&t
Row 2: K 9(10) w&t
Row 3: P 12(13) w&t
Row 4: K 15(16) w&t
Row 5: P 18(20) w&t
Row 6: K 21(24) w&t
Row 7: P 24(28) w&t
Row 8: K 27(32) w&t
Row 9: P 31(36) w&t
Row 10:K 35(40) w&t
Row 11: P 39(44)
Row 12: K 43(48)
Pick up st next to band onto R ndl. P first st from left ndl and pass picked up st over. (first BO st)
Continue BO to end purlwise. Sew end into next st on band

-For personal use only. Not for resale. Do not reproduce.-