Renee’s Challenge is a bottom up beanie style hat. The gauge is 4 sts = 1 inch in the cable pattern before blocking, and loosens up to 3.5 sts = 1 inch after being soaked and relaxing. There is only one size for this hat and it fits a standard adult head of 20-22 inches (56-61 cm). The finished height is 9 inches (23 cm) and measuring around the center of the brim is 17 inches (43.25 cm).

A note about the fit of this hat. It is meant to be worn down onto the forehead, not back behind the bangs like you would wear a slouch hat. If you try to wear it that way the cables will pull in and it will slide off your head. If you are worried that it will he too tight or want a loose fitting hat, going up to a US 10.5 will help.

There is a fun story behind this design that I would like to share with you. My friend Suzanne (Idahosuz) texted me the picture of a commercially made hat that her daughter Renee had sent her, asking if she could figure out how to make one that was like it. Suzanne wasn’t 100% sure about how to get the brim like that, or the count of the cables, so she forwarded the picture to me hoping I could help. I started working on it right away with only the small picture on my phone to go off of. After many attempts, swatches and stitch count changes, we have Renee’s Challenge. It’s not exactly identical to the store bought one, but close enough for the three of us to be happy with it.

Enjoy the pattern and if you have any questions please let me know. Also, there is a Mel-Tran Designs group here on Ravelry for those who are knitting my patterns. Please come join us!