I was so excited to see the release of the new Heidi and Finn Downtown Hat Pattern. I usually hand off pattern reviews to the talented ladies on my review team, but this one I just had to claim for myself.

Click the image to purchase through Heidi and Finn's Etsy Shop

You see, I really needed this hat. Unlike many new patterns that are on my "want list"
this one was an absolute necessity. Why? Well, I have this toddler. She is what we refer to in the South as "a mess." For those of you not familiar with this phrase, it's a term of endearment with a bit of a subversive undertone, which hints at the possibility that if she was not my child, well, I probably wouldn't like her much, but since she is mine, well, there's nothing I can do but love her and her little quirks. So, what does that have to do with needing a hat pattern? Well, one of the quirks of little Miss Mess is that she is a headbanger. Whenever she gets mad, she crumples to the floor and bangs her head..hard.

Since this is a daily occurrence, she has a complete halo of bruises on her forehead most of the time. When one spot gets too sore to keep banging, she turns her head to get the other side. The Doctor tells me she will probably grow out of it by the time she is 4, that's it's very common, and not to worry. Well, I can't stay at home until she's 4, and I can't be taking her out in public looking like I've beaten her in the head either, so this hat is the perfect solution.

At first, she wasn't too sure about the hat, or sitting to get her picture taken for that matter, but then she saw the neighbor's cat walking across the yard.

So, she decided she wanted to go pet it. See that look? That look says, "If you don't let me go pet that cat, I'm going to flail all over the ground and bang this pretty little hat into oblivion. So, we went to visit the cat.

Looks like an angel doesn't she? Well, it's just the hat, covering up her horns...

The pattern itself is exquisite. I had never purchased a Heidi and Finn pattern before, and I was very pleased with it. The directions were clear and thorough, and suitable for a beginner in my opinion. The pattern includes numerous fantastic photos which clearly outline each step and don't leave any need for guessing.

The hat was a quick sew, under 30 minutes, and went together easily and without any issues. The only problems I had were due to my incredibly cheap jersey fabric rolling on the sides. Next time I make it, I'll use something a little heavier and better quality, and I think that will make for a little better finished look too. You might notice that some of my seams look a bit puckered; I'm pretty sure that's because the fabric has no body to it.

I love that this pattern is unisex and goes from infant all the way up to size 12. My next ones will be for my boys; they were a bit jealous. Luckily they don't headbang, so I only had to deal with pouty faces.