Tuesday, August 11, 2009

Driver's Ivy Scally Flat?

Hello! This is a crochet story.
If that doesn't interest you, you may leave now.
(but it does have cool pictures. ;-) I promise.)



So, apparently there are a lot of names for this particular style of hat. I've heard driver's cap, golf cap, ivy cap, scally cap, flat cap... If there are any technical differences between the hat structures, I stand unawares.

At any rate, I've always wanted to make one. I browsed for a pattern a couple times, but didn't really find anything, so I moved on. Then I watched this music video the other day. (Need To Breathe - Washed by the Water) I just kept going "duuude! Their hats are awesome!" through the whole video. Then I decided that I Really Must Make One.

So you know what I did? I did what any sane person would do.
I whipped out Laura's trusty laptop (oh, wait. I already had it cuz I was watching the music video. nevermind.), and started looking for crochet patterns. All of the ones that claimed to be what I wanted were floppy, beret-like things with brims poking off one edge. Of course, that's fine and good if it's what you're going for, but that's not what I was going for. For hours upon end, I searched for a pattern. For hours upon end, I was met with nothing.

Being the brilliant person that I am, I exclaimed, "if I could just find a template of the shapes I'd need - like from a sewing pattern or something - then I could figure out how to crochet them and put them together!" So, I began a search for a template. Or any sort of sewing pattern for a flat cap. Yeah, um... all I got was the medieval muffin sort of flat cap. And one person on Etsy had a pattern. Good for her. But I really didn't want to pay that much for a sewing pattern when what I wanted was a crochet pattern anyways. (It just occurred to me that I'm really dragging this story out.)

When I went shopping and found ZERO cap patterns at the store, I gave up. Looking for patterns, that is. I went home determined to create one without a pattern. Hey, that's how I make almost everything else, right?

Sooo, I pulled out a nice little conductor-y type hat of my own to help me estimate the size my cap would need to be. Then I drew a nice little shape for how the top of my cap should look. Then I found a nice little skein of wine colored wool and got to work. The sides and the brim were a lot harder to figure out than the top. The brim was just a big ol' pain, actually.

Two Star Trek episodes, one Janette Oke movie, and at least 6+ hours of non-television aided work later, I have my SUPER AMAZING CAP!!



I say, folks, I am so insanely proud of this thing.
And that stupid brim gave me fits.
It's a little big on me, and the pattern definitely needs tweaking (that is, if I can reinterpret the chicken-scratch I furiously scribbled as I worked), but I'm very happy with it. It looks just like it was supposed to!!

P.S. Isn't my brother Nick a fantastic model?

P.P.S. I know you were all just dying to find out what the new thing in my Etsy shop was. (that was said with just a smidgen of sarcasm, in case you mis-read it silently to yourself.)








Beautiful red fingerless gloves. Now you know.

35 comments:

  1. Oh you did a great job! Too bad I don't crochet or I would bug you to write that pattern up. I have been looking for a knitting pattern in the same style for ages. I found a couple of close ones but nothing I knew I would be happy with. So I decided to just borrow my brothers real one that was handmade in Ireland and I'm going to make my own pattern. Your post is kicking me in the pants right now to get started.

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  2. That hat is just great! I also love the tenacity you showed just to put it together. I bet it sells really quickly!

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  3. caitlin!!!!!! that is amazing! i love those hats and yours turned out sooo awesome. great job lady!

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  4. I LOVE the fingerless gloves. They're great. And red is so the perfect color for them! I bet they're useful during winter...

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  5. Adorable!! And happy belated birthday to my favorite freckled 20 year old.

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  6. I have just spent the last 6 hours google-ing every possible name of this hat looking for a crochet pattern! Are you willing to share it?! I would REALLY appreciate it! And you did a beautiful job!!

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  7. Awesome hat! Oh, please make a pattern for this, I can't find one anywhere!

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  8. OMGS I just stumbled upon your hat and I must say it is amazing! I do hope you'll put up the pattern ^^

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  9. Hi There!
    Have you written up the pattern for this? I would buy it in a second. I have been on the same journey and ended up on your blog! LOL. Please let me know. ;-)

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  10. I haven't had the ... determination enough to finish tweaking it yet, but you commenters have inspired me to give it a try and post it. :)

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  11. I've been looking for a pattern like this for a long time! Please please put one together. Pretty please?

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  12. I see you made this quite some tie ago. Did you ever make a pattern for it? I'd SUUUUUURE like to have the pattern!

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  13. Hey Gigi, I'm actually working on trying to create a workable pattern right now! As soon as I get all the kinks worked out, I'm going to email everyone who commented here ;-)
    Thanks for asking!!

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  14. Hi!! Love your driver's cap! I was wondering if you have the pattern for sale anywhere? I've been looking for one just like yours for ages!! Thanks!

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  15. Oh...I just posted...here is my email if you do have a pattern!!

    thetangledknot@gmail.com

    Thanks! Kim

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  16. I've like many before me have been on the same fruitless quest. My best friend is a scally fiend as is his son. If you could send me the pattern. I would be extremely grateful! I only have just started teaching myself to crochet. So if you have any tips on how to adjust the size then I'd be very so happy if not I'll play with the pattern till I get it perfect. Email: trogwithgun@gmail.com. Either way cool post and congrats on your perseverance!

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  17. I could have saved myself fruitless hours web-researching if I had stumbled on your site first! I even have this huge list of men's hat styles so that I would know EXACTLY what I was looking for. I would love your pattern if you ever get it done. In the meantime, I'm going to make one myself. My son's cap is always on his head, so I guess I'll head to the Goodwill and pick up one I can take apart. Thanks for the nudge!!

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  18. Oh, and in case anyone is interested, there is a very similar hat in the book "Son of Stitch 'n Bitch" It's taller in the back and has a button at the center crown, but the basic shape is quite good. It's also a bulkier crochet, though, and I wanted one that more approximated a good Irish wool fabric. Still, it might be worth a try.

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  19. I haven't made very much progress on the pattern, I'm afraid. :\ I don't know what's wrong with it! or me! I wish I could hire somebody to test and fix it for me, except I don't want to pay a lot, or give up the right of having it be MY pattern. :P I still promise to let you guys know when I get it done!

    Margaret, I tried valiantly that sons of stitch'n'bitch pattern and could NOT manage to make it make sense! lol I've seen some people's came out great, but I couldn't figure it out.

    I'll try to keep plugging away. :) You guys are encouraging. thanks!

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  20. You should make a video of you making it and post it on YouTube. I would love to know how to make one!!!

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  21. Lovely!!! I want it sooo bad :) Please send me one too.. info@ellyplump.se

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  22. I liked your story. I tried making a mini version on this hat first and it was... off. I am not sure if your selling the pattern but if it's free could I take a peak at your notes? My email is avonrep84@hotmail.com

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  23. I been looking for every for a pattern like this please I even tried to make a pattern myself without any success, I would like to try youre pattern email me at camarela26@hotmail.com I would really appreciate it. good luck!

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  24. Another girl groveling for your awesome pattern. Thanks!
    Juxtapositionofmine@yahoo

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  25. I just want you all to know I haven't forgotten you! I know it's been years - I'm still working on a pattern. I know this pic looks great, but the pattern is really flawed! I keep working when I can, and I promise to let you know when I get it!!

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  26. I, like others, have been looking for a pattern today and come across your blog. Love the hat and am looking forward to your pattern! I am going to try the lidsville hat while I wait. Good luck and hope to try your pattern soon! Lauri
    lauriflannery@comcast.net

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  27. Love it! Great job! I was doing the same thing searching the internet for something. If/when you get a pattern figured out, would you email it to me? Pretty please? :) Renee_Chadwick@hotmail.com
    Thanks!!!
    Renee

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  28. Love it! Great job! I was doing the same thing searching the internet for something. If/when you get a pattern figured out, would you email it to me? Pretty please? :) Renee_Chadwick@hotmail.com
    Thanks!!!
    Renee

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  29. Love it! Great job! I was doing the same thing searching the internet for something. If/when you get a pattern figured out, would you email it to me? Pretty please? :) Renee_Chadwick@hotmail.com
    Thanks!!!
    Renee

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  30. This is awesome! I have been looking for a pattern like this. You wouldn't by chance be able to sent it to me, could you?
    emilyp1156@gmail.com
    Thanks!!

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  31. This is awesome! I have been looking for a pattern like this. You wouldn't by chance be able to sent it to me, could you?
    emilyp1156@gmail.com
    Thanks!!

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  32. I love this cap i would really love the pattern!!! If you don't mind sending it to me I would truly be grateful.
    honeywheat227@gmail.com

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