Audacity – “boldness or daring, esp. with confident or arrogant disregard for personal safety, conventional though, or other restrictions” (Collins Dictionary)

When I considered the word audacity, I was struck by the expression – confident disregard for conventional thought… What does audacity mean for me? And I think for me, it is less about being ambitious or successful, for me audacity, is a willingness to hold, it is the willingness to live a life that doesn’t look good to others, it’s about taking steps you need to take, a willingness to be with life, not on your own terms but on life’s terms. I personally think that audacity is willingness to step outside of what culture dictates, and to listen to your own heart. It’s a willingness to be unnoticed or unseen, to be humbled by life and to see life as it is. The people who I admire most, aren’t those who are necessary successful in the eyes of others, it’s those who have faced hardship and struggle, and come through this with compassion for others. It’s those who never give up, despite the difficulties they face. It’s the people who give because the world pulls their gifts out of them, a giving that is natural honest and true… Something beautiful amidst the darkness.

For me this hat represents simple pleasures, taking the time to find joy in what you do - with the option to be audacious in your choice of colours, or simply to take pleasure in the stitches - these choices are what this project embodies for me.

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Hat

Materials:
• One 4mm / US size 6 circular needle, 40cm / 16” in length, or size needed to meet the required gauge.
• One 3.5mm / US size 4 circular needle, 40cm / 16” in length, or two US sizes smaller than needle size used to obtain gauge.
• One 4mm / US size 6 circular needle, at least 80cm / 32” in length for magic loop or one set of 4mm / US size 6 DPNs, or size needed to meet the required gauge.
• Optional: One stitch marker to mark the beginning of round.
• Tapestry needle for sewing in threads and blocking materials.
• Worsted weight yarn in four colours, approximately 76m (86m, 100m) / 83yds (94yds, 109yds) of Main Colour, approximately 35m (40m, 48m) or 38yds (44yds, 52yds) of Contrast Colour 1, approximately 30m (35m, 40m) or 33yds (38yds, 44yds) of Contrast Colour 2, and approximately 9m (10m, 11m) or 10yds (11yds, 12yds) of Contrast Colour 3.
The top sample is shown in size 2 and is worked in Malabrigo Rios - 100% merino wool, 192m / 210yds per 100g in colourways Uruguay (Main Colour), Fucsia (Contrast Colour 1), VAA (Contrast Colour 2) and Living Coral (Contrast Colour 3). The bottom sample shown size 1 and is worked in Malabrigo Worsted – 100% merino wool, 192m / 210yds per 100g in colourways Buscando Azul (Main Colour) and Sunset (Contrast Colour).

Gauge:
23 stitches and 28 rows = 10cm / 4” in stranded knitting using the colourwork chart from page 3, worked in the round and blocked. Knitting to gauge ensures that your knitted item’s size and yardage match those stated in the pattern.

Size:
Three sizes: 1 (2, 3) – 42cm (47cm, 52cm) / 16.5” (18.5”, 20.5”) in circumference, measured at the widest part of the hat. The hat measures 27cm (29cm, 30cm) / 10.5” (11.5”, 12”) from the crown to cast on edge. Samples shown in sizes 1 (bottom) and 2 (top). Intended to be worn with 7.5cm – 12.5cm / 3” – 5” negative ease.