I get this overwhelming sense of accomplishment when I’m able to take something from an idea in my head, to a finished product.  This new “Set Sail Hat” is one thousand percent one of those moments of accomplishment.

I did a fabric promo last year for a Breakfast at Tiffany’s inspired print and I really wanted a big, fabulous hat for it.  But every hat that I tried on was squeeeeeeezing my big, round head.  Which has always been the case for me, and most hats never fit this noggin of mine.  So I decided to start working on drafting a sun hat for myself, offered it up as an idea to run as a P4P pattern, and here we are today.

I started a little late in the season last year, so by the time we were able to get through some of the testing — the timing wasn’t right.  And neither was the fit.  It sat on the back-burner until a few weeks ago, when I had a light bulb go off in my head for a redraft!  I tweaked the lines, did a second round of testing with the amazing women we have in our tester pool, and we’ve got a brand new hat, baby!

My vision was to create something better looking than a bucket hat.  I wanted a rounded, head hugging curve.  After staring at beach balls (not joking for a second) on how they were constructed, I mathed my way into this three piece cap.  The Set Sail Hat pattern covers head circumferences from 18″ – 25″ and is so crazy fabulous on everyone so far!  I seriously am dying to see what the Patterns for Pirates group of nearly 100K sewists come up with.  Because it’s sure to be amazing every time a new share comes up!  I still get excited every time I see someone use any of the past tutorials or freebies I’ve done.

Here is a quick peek at the three hats I managed to photograph.

First up was one of the earlier versions from last year.  The shape didn’t change a whole lot, so it’s safe to share.  Plus…I actually managed to take photos in a pool.  So I couldn’t resist adding them!  This is a 4″ brim and is decorated with one of the FREE SET SAIL HAT wordy files that you can find on the P4P blog, to go along with this release.  Free everything today, you guys!

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Second in line was a “WAHBAM” sized brim.  A 7″ circle brim on a hat is nothing but fabulous.  It’s huge and floppy and fun and perfect for beach trips or just being a diva.

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And last, but of course not least, another more basic hat in a 4″ brim.  Did you know that making hats forces you to realize that you don’t have clothes to wear with them?  And then you are crazy like me and you make a new Essential Tank and Summer Kimono to match your outfit just so you can take photos?

…..me either.

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I hope everyone loves these as much as I do!  I’m looking forward to actually having some head covers that fit me this summer…but even more so, I’m looking forward to seeing what gets made from this sweet little pattern of mine.