Skip to main content

Lady Wynwood #7 early release Kickstarter

I worked on my first Kickstarter and it got approved! It’s for the Special Edition Hardcover of Lady Wynwood’s Spies, volume 1: Archer and the release of Lady Wynwood’s Spies, volume 7: Spinster. I contacted my graphic designer about the Special Edition Hardcover of vol. 1: Archer—it’s going to be SO beautiful! The Kickstarter focuses on the Special Edition Hardcover, but it’ll also include vol. 7: Spinster so that it’ll sort of be like a launch day for vol. 7, too. A third special thing that’ll be in the Kickstarter is Special Edition Paperbacks of all the books in the series. They won’t be available in stores, just in the Kickstarter (and later, from my website, and also in my Patreon book box tiers if I decide to do them). The Kickstarter is not live yet, but you can follow it to be alerted when it has launched. (You may need to create a free Kickstarter account.) Follow Camy’s Kickstarter

April’s Newsboy Hat knitting pattern w/ @KnitPicks Dishie

Chautona Havig is one of the twelve authors who participated with me in the Christian Contemporary Romance anthology, Save the Date. Chautona’s novella in the anthology was titled Adoring April.

In celebration, I wrote a knitting pattern for the Newsboy Hat used by Chautona’s heroine, April.

(In case you missed it, here are the links for my interview with Chautona part 1 and part 2, and an excerpt of one of Chautona’s other books, Blessing Bentley.)



Chautona’s heroine April wears a casual blue cotton Newsboy Cap. I knit it with Knit Picks Dishie, which is a sturdy cotton yarn. I specifically designed this to only use one ball of Dishie.

The hat is knit in the round, making the lace part of the crown very easy. I have charted the pattern below. Just double click on the chart to see the larger version, which you can right-click to save on your computer.

The pattern for the crown is a combination of the pattern Figure 47 Block for Counterpane in the Priscilla Cotton Knitting Book, published in 1918, and the pattern #66 Pretty Small Pattern Diamond of Four Holes from pages 158-159 of The Lady's Assistant, volume 2 by Jane Gaugain, published in 1847, 5th edition. (If you’re interested, you can download a free scanned .pdf of each of these antique books by clicking on the links.) I changed both patterns slightly and charted the patterns.

The brim is stiffened with strong interfacing rather than anything more solid. (I had tried using a cut up plastic bottle for the brim, but that ended up being just a bit too uncomfortable, so I went with the interfacing instead.)

(In case you were wondering, I stuffed a pillowcase into the hat so it would fit on my bear’s head. I apologize that it’s a little lumpy.)


Yarn: Knit Picks Dishie Multi, (100% cotton, 190 yards/100 grams, worsted weight), Deep Blue Sea Multi colorway, 1 ball

Needles:
US 7 (4.5 mm)

Dimensions:
24” circumference. NOTE: You can make the circumference smaller by inserting elastic or a ribbon into the ribbed band, see instructions below. To make the circumference larger, when you bind off the band, use a stretchy bind off like sewn tubular bind-off instead of a normal bind-off (which is what I did to get the 24” circumference).
55” long, 7” wide open ended tube

Gauge:
4.5 stitches and 6 rows per inch in stockinette stitch using US 7 needles.

NOTE: The cap is knit from the top of the crown down to the band, then the brim is knitted.


Pattern:
Cast on 8 stitches in the round.
Knit one round.
Commence chart from round 1.
Follow chart until round 53. The hat should be about 8” from the cast on. (128 stitches)
If you’d like the hat to be taller, repeat rows 46-53 until the hat is the height you desire.
If you’d like the hat to have a wider circumference, then after round 31, continue adding a stitch every other row, knitting the extra stitches, and then when you’ve added 6 stitches, incorporate another 6-stitch repeat of the 8-round stitch pattern #66 Pretty Small Pattern Diamond of Four Holes.


Ribbed band:
Set-up round: [(k1, k2tog) 5 times, k1] repeat around the needles (88 stitches)
Band: K1,p1 ribbing for 6 rounds (about 1”).


Brim:
Bind off except for 38 sts. Knit those 38 sts, place marker, then cast on 38 stitches and join in the round, placing a second marker for the beginning of the round.

Round 1: knit all around
Rounds 2-16: k1, ssk, knit to 3 sts before marker, k2tog, k1, slip marker, k1, ssk, k to 3 sts before marker, k2tog, k1

Kitchener stitch, like the toe of a sock, the remaining stitches.


Place brim down on a piece of paper and trace around it. Cut out the paper tracing, then cut two pieces of interfacing from the paper tracing.

Turn brim inside out and iron interfacings to insides of brim. Remove paper layer, turn brim right side out and position the two layers evenly, then iron outside of brim to seal interfacings to each other.

NOTE: I saw a pattern that cut a plastic bottle instead of interfacing and slipped the plastic inside the brim. I tried it, but I found the plastic too stiff and uncomfortable. However if you desire a stiffer brim, that might be something to try.

Sew cast on sts to underside and slightly inside band so brim curves down a little.


Finishing: Weave in all ends.
Optional: sew yarn in a zigzag pattern on the inside of the ribbing of the band so that whoever wears the hat can cut a piece of ribbon or elastic to fit their head, then string it through the zigzag and sew the ribbon or elastic closed, so the hat will fit more snugly.

***

Camy’s knitting patterns inspired by the novellas in Save the Date:
Ashlyn's Yoga Bag knitting pattern w/ @KnitPicks Dishie
Cleo’s Drawstring Purse knitting pattern w/ @KnitPicks CotLin
Kate’s Tube Scarf knitting pattern
April’s Newsboy Hat knitting pattern w/ @KnitPicks Dishie

If you like romance novels, please check out my list of free short stories, novellas, and novels available on my blog! I write Christian contemporary romance and romantic suspense as Camy Tang, and Christian Regency romance as Camille Elliot. Click here to knit the antique scarf pattern from my Regency romance novel, The Spinster's Christmas.

Comments

Becky Dempsey said…
How does the 6 stitch pattern repeat work? You have 128 stitches at the end of the original lace chart, but then you switch to a 6 stitch chart. 6 doesn't go into 128 evenly. You would have an extra 2 stitches each round.
Camy Tang said…
Hi Becky, I’m so sorry, I only just saw your comment now.
I’m sorry, I realize I wasn’t clear in the pattern, so I revised it:
Follow chart until round 53. The hat should be about 8” from the cast on. (128 stitches)
If you’d like the hat to be taller, repeat rows 46-53 until the hat is the height you desire.
If you’d like the hat to have a wider circumference, then after round 31, continue adding a stitch every other row, knitting the extra stitches, and then when you’ve added 6 stitches, incorporate another 6-stitch repeat of the 8-round stitch pattern #66 Pretty Small Pattern Diamond of Four Holes.

Popular Posts

Toilet seat cover

Captain’s Log, Supplemental Update August 2008: I wrote up the pattern for this with "improvements"! Here's the link to my No Cold Bums toilet seat cover ! Okay, remember a few days ago I was complaining about the cold toilet seat in my bathroom? Well, I decided to knit a seat cover. Not a lid cover, but a seat cover. I went online and couldn’t find anything for the seat, just one pattern for the lid by Feminitz.com . However, I took her pattern for the inside edge of the lid cover and modified it to make a seat cover. Here it is! It’s really ugly stitch-wise because originally I made it too small and had to extend it a couple inches on each side. I figured I’d be the one staring at it, so who cared if the extension wasn’t perfectly invisible? I used acrylic yarn since, well, that’s what I had, and also because it’s easy to wash. I’ll probably have to wash this cover every week or so, but it’s easy to take off—I made ties which you can see near the back of the seat. And...

Brainstorm - character occupation

Captain's Log, Stardate 03.23.2009 Hey guys, I could use some help. In my current manuscript, The Year of the Dog , which is a humorous contemporary romance, I have a minor character, Eddie. He’s my heroine’s ex-boyfriend, and they’re on good terms with each other. He’s a bit irresponsible, but not so much so that he’s a complete loser. He’s got a very easy going attitude, he forgets to pay his bills sometimes, he’s friendly and charming. He’s adventurous and fun to be around, but he’s a little forgetful sometimes, and he tends to spend a little outside his income. I need an occupation for him. What would a charming, easy going, slightly irresponsible guy do for a living? He’s not too irresponsible, because otherwise readers will wonder what in the world my heroine saw in him to date him in the first place. She was attracted to his charm, his easy going attitude (her family’s uptight, and he was a nice contrast), and his adventurousness. But his forgetfulness and irresponsibility ...

I sold to Steeple Hill!

Captain's Log, Supplemental Remember that romantic suspense proposal I blogged about earlier? Well, it just sold to Steeple Hill’s Love Inspired Suspense line! I am so jazzed! I am beyond jazzed! The story’s working title is Sinister Spa The story's title is Deadly Intent and here’s a blurb (but it’s probably not what will appear on the back of the book): Massage therapist Naomi Grant could use a massage herself. With her father at home recovering from a stroke, Naomi is put in charge of the family’s elite day spa in Sonoma county. The new responsibilities sit awkwardly on her shoulders, and things only get worse when handsome Dr. Devon Knightley breezes into the spa, demanding to see one of the female clients. And the woman is found dead in Naomi’s massage room. Suddenly, Naomi is a suspect and her family’s spa is shut down. How could God let this awful thing happen? Devon only needed to see his ex-wife about a family necklace she still hadn’t returned, but when she dies and...

I’m a Book of the Year winner!

Captain's Log, Stardate 09.22.2008 I won first place in the Debut Author category of the American Christian Fiction Writers Book of the Year awards! Here are all the winners! Debut Author Sushi for One? (Camy Tang) Zondervan, editor Sue Brower Bayou Justice (Robin Miller writing as Robin Caroll) In Between (Jenny B. Jones) Contemporary Novella Finally Home in Missouri Memories anthology (Deborah Raney) Barbour Publishing, editor Susan Downs Moonlight & Mistletoe in A Big Apple Christmas anthology (Carrie Turansky) Remaking of Moe McKenna in Race to the Altar anthology (Gloria Clover) Historical Novella Love Notes in Love Letters Anthology (Mary Davis) Barbour Publishing, editor Rebecca Germany Beyond the Memories in Missouri Memories anthology (DiAnn Mills) The Spinster & The Tycoon in The Spinster Brides of Cactus Corner anthology (Vickie McDonough) Lits Splitting Harriet (Tamara Leigh) Multnomah Books, editor Julee Schwarzb...

Chinese Take-Out and Sushi for One

Captain’s Log, Supplemental My agent sent me an article from Publisher’s Weekly that discussed this incident: Chinese Take-Out Spawns Christian Controversy And here’s also a blog post that talks about it in more detail: The Fighting 44s This is Soong-Chan Rah’s blog: The PCS blog In sum: Apparently Zondervan (yes, my publisher), who has partnered with Youth Specialties, had put out a youth leaders skit that had stereotypical Asian dialogue, which offended many Christian Asian Americans. In response to the outcry, Zondervan/Youth Specialities put out a sincere apology and is not only freezing the remaining stock of the book, but also reprinting it and replacing the copies people have already bought. I am very proud of my publisher for how they have handled this situation. The skit writers have also issued a public apology . (I feel sorry for them, because they were only trying to write a funny skit, not stir up this maelstrom of internet controversy. I’ve been in youth work long enou...

What's a Kickstarter and what will I get from it?

I’m hoping to do a Kickstarter in late July or early August, and I thought I’d post this to answer a few questions you might have about it. What’s a Kickstarter and why’s Camy doing one? My Kickstarter is a crowdfunding campaign to fund the production of a Special Edition hardcover with dust jacket of Lady Wynwood’s Spies, volume 1: Archer. Depending on how this Kickstarter goes, eventually I would like to do Special Edition hardcovers of the other books in the series. For all you avid fans of the series, this Kickstarter will also offer an early release of Lady Wynwood’s Spies, volume 7: Spinster. However, the main focus of this campaign is the Special Edition hardcover of book 1. Kickstarter isn’t a shopping website, but I admit I kind of feel like I’m shopping when I back a campaign for books or items that look fantastic! Why Kickstarter: Kickstarter enables me to produce the kinds of gorgeous special editions that I love and offer them to you, my readers, so you can...

I GOT A 3-BOOK CONTRACT WITH ZONDERVAN!

Captain's Log, Supplemental My agent called me today with the great news! Zondervan has contracted me for another three books! Right now, they’re all stand alone books—not a series. The first book is slated to release May 2010 and is tentatively titled The Year of the Dog (they’ll probably change it). It’s a women’s contemporary novel. Here’s the back cover blurb from my proposal: Tessa Ota, a professional dog trainer, is having a bad year. While moving ahead with renovation plans for her new dog kenneling and training facility, Tessa needs to move in with her disapproving mother and her antagonist sister. She convinces her ex-boyfriend to take her dog for a few months … but discovers that his brother is the irate engineer whose car she rammed a few weeks earlier. Charles Bretton has enough problems. His mama has just shown up on his doorstep all the way from Louisiana, and his brother has to move in with him after being kicked out of his apartment—with a dog in tow. And guess who...

I GOT A CONTRACT!

Captain’s Log, Stardate 03.29.2006 I had a wonderfully funny blog post planned for today, but I got sidetracked by some news yesterday! Zondervan has offered me a three-book contract on my Asian chick-lit series ! I’m still stunned by everything that’s happened. The series is actually a 4-book projected Asian chick-lit series about four cousins who fall under the infamous family title "Oldest Single Female Cousin," and their ruthless, wealthy grandma applies pressure on each of them to improve their lack of love interests. I think the first book is tentatively scheduled to be released in August 2007. The blurb on the series is on my website here . Brandilyn Collins posted to the ACFW loop about my writing journey, and Tamara Cooper asked that I share it. And since you all know how much I like to talk , here it is. My writing journey: Like most writers, I have wanted to write since I was very young. (In high school, I wrote a fantasy novel that will never see the light of day ...

Tabi socks, part deux

Captain's Log, Stardate 07.25.2008 (If you're on Ravelry, friend me! I'm camytang.) I made tabi socks again! (At the bottom of the pattern is the calculation for the toe split if you're not using the same weight yarn that I did for this pattern (fingering). I also give an example from when I used worsted weight yarn with this pattern.) I used Opal yarn, Petticoat colorway. It’s a finer yarn than my last pair of tabi socks, so I altered the pattern a bit. Okay, so here’s my first foray into giving a knitting pattern. Camy’s top-down Tabi Socks I’m assuming you already know the basics of knitting socks. If you’re a beginner, here are some great tutorials: Socks 101 How to Knit Socks The Sock Knitter’s Companion A video of turning the heel Sock Knitting Tips Yarn: I have used both fingering weight and worsted weight yarn with this pattern. You just change the number of cast on stitches according to your gauge and the circumference of your ankle. Th...

New book idea a la Captain Caffeine

Captain's Log, Stardate 04.14.2009 So my husband, Captain Caffeine, had lunch with a few friends a few days ago. And they asked about my writing, and if I’d been on Oprah yet. (Yeah, right) They then discussed NYT bestselling books, and why can’t Camy write a NYT bestseller. (Sure, let me just open a vein over a blank page and it’ll come right out.) So Captain Caffeine came home with ideas for my new NYT bestselling novel. First it starts with vampires, because Twilight is so hot. But not just any vampires. This one’s an Amish vampire. And he’s not just an Amish vampire, he’s a cop in disguise, infiltrating the Amish community to protect a witness. (Hmm, that storyline sounds familiar ...) But wait! There’s more! To add more conflict and stick with my brand of Asian fiction, we introduce the Tibetan monk! Who joins the Amish community to get away from the pressures of monkhood. But in reality, he’s protecting the Chinese princess on the run, trying to escape from her father’s Hong...