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.-

Almost there

Yesterday I checked my pm's on Ravelry to find a great surprise...one of my testers had finished! Yay!!! I know for those of you who write patterns all the time this is probably nothing but I was excited nonetheless. It is a pretty basic pattern but I was worried that what I thought was basic would end up being wonky. I'm glad to know that I'm not as entirely demented as I had previously thought. The testing process has been an interesting first. I have learned a few things. First and foremost, put everything up front for your testers. For example, I gave them the list of techniques they would need to know, I also discussed that I couldn't pay them for their help as this would be a free pattern. One thing I forgot to mention, however was a time frame. I wished that I had done that but since I didn't I thought it better that I not add that in all of a sudden and so I wait. Patience is another thing that I have learned. I think it a great thing that my testers have different abilities because then I get the whole spectrum of problems that may arise. I consider myself a moderately advanced beginner so seeing what other people think and how they interpret my explanations was very helpful. Gauge is another thing I didn't consider too much but now I see that it does make a difference even with an oversized hat. My gauge was apparently really tight because some of the problems with sizing or holes etc. didn't seem to affect my finished project as much as it did to my testers. They have been a great help in my own learning process and I thank them. Kudos to Chra and SLOrnamentals on Ravelry.

Austin unraveled

I have finally figured out what I did for seaming on my project Austin. I know that sounds stupid but I liked the fact that the seaming didn't look like seaming but it wasn't all one piece either. Since figuring this out I can now finish up a pattern and send it off to my lovely testers at Ravelry. And when the testing is complete I can post my first pattern. Yea!

FO AUSTIN

Since I have started blogging I have had trouble finishing any project. I have started so many and frogged them or left them hibernating. But...finally I have finished a project! To all of you who knit frequently this will probably be just another day for you but I am a slow, and I mean slow, knitter. I knit English style and it takes me much longer than those of you who knit continental I'm sure. I have been intrigued at the different projects I have found on Ravelry. (I love that site.) There is a vast amount of talent floating about the world from everyday people and much of their talents have been showcased on that site. However, there are always things we picture in our minds that others have not whether the differences be slight or vast. This was such the case for me. I made a newsboy cap knit style that most had made similarly only in crochet. This is an adult size hat but DD made a better model than my ugmug. I was wary of making my own pattern being such a novice knitter that I thought it would not turn out. It may also have to do with the fact that I never swatch. Though that may have to change soon. Anyway, I knit this out of Caron simply soft because I had it on hand in a good color. I don't know the yardage because it was a 1 lb skein that was on sale for $5 so I would have to weigh it to get an idea of what I used. I used probably less than half of the skein. It was a simple enough pattern with no extra notions except knitting needles and a tapestry needle so not much is required for this project. Overall very inexpensive. Enough chatter. Here is Austin.