This one got too round on the top. Oops! Everyone makes mistakes. It proves that it's handmade!!
I love my yarn. If I didn't, I wouldn't knit, crochet or weave with it. Why do I love it so much? Because it does such amazing things while looking and feeling great. In celebration of my yarn and the giving season, I have a super stretchy reversible hat pattern for you and it's free!
Karen's Amazing Hat by Karen Page.
This pattern was inspired by looking at other patterns and wanting just a little bit more, or less than what I could find. So, I just made up my own. And I'm sharing!
Yarn: FAS SW Merino DK, one skein, Color used is Meditative Reflections. 36 stitches=4" in 2X2 rib. Buy your yarn here: www.TheFineArtofSlow.com/yarn.
Alternate Yarn: FAS Round Sock Yarn, 4 Ply, one skein, held double throughout, in Meditative Reflections. 36 stitches=4" in 2X2 rib. Note that the colors blend and become more subtle when holding two strands together.
You will need a similar weight yarn in a contrast color. I used some synthetic yarn I had on hand, about 3-4 yards should be plenty.
**** Please be aware that you may not get the same results if you substitute yarn. This pattern fits small child up through adult, but only if you make it with stretchy yarn! ****
Circular Knitting needles, 3.75 mm, US 5. 36 stitches =4" in 2X2 rib.
Gauge is not as important for this pattern because the stretchy pattern and stretchy yarn combine to make a super stretchy hat!
OK, now that all that is out of the way, here's the actual pattern, first the short version, then with helping hints.
1. Cast on 100 stitches with a crocheted provisional cast on. In case you are unfamiliar with this cast on, simply make a chain with a crochet hook and a contrasting yarn longer than 100 stitches and pull up a loop to knit with through the back of each crochet stitch, using the main yarn color.
2. Join to work in the round.
3. Work in 2x2 rib for 4 inches. (Knit 2, Purl 2)
4. Work 2 rounds in pattern with a contrasting color yarn.
5. Work 2 rounds in pattern with main color.
6. Remove provisional cast on waste yarn, placing the stitches on a spare circle needle.
7. Knit the cast on edge and the live edge together.
8. Knit until piece is 6 inches long.
9. Place markers every 20 stitches (5) around work.
10. *Work in pattern to marker, slip marker, knit two together through back loop, repeat from * until there are 20 stitches remaining.
11. Knit two together through back loop until you have 6 stitches left, removing markers.
12. Break yarn and use a tapestry needle to slip the yarn end through all the stitches.
13. Pull to close the opening, fasten off and run in ends.
Using a crocheted provisional cast on, cast on 100 stitches. (In case you are unfamiliar with this cast on, simply make a chain with a crochet hook and a contrasting yarn longer than 100 stitches and pull up a loop to knit with through the back of each crochet stitch, using the main color.) If you are making this for an adult with a large head, increase to 120, 140, etc. Just remember to adjust your markers and that the existing size fits me and my head is not small. Did I say the hat is amazingly stretchy?
K2, P2 until the work is 4 inches long.
Change to contrast color and knit in pattern (knit 2 purl 2) for two rounds.
Change to main color and knit in pattern for two rounds.
Remove the provisional cast on, picking up the stitches. I use a smaller diameter circular needle for this. It doesn't really matter what needle you use, but I would not use a larger needle because it will be harder to knit those stitches.
Keeping in pattern, knit and purl the two live sets of stitches together, putting the loose ends from the cast on edge inside the tube that is forming. This is like a three needle bind off, but you aren't binding off. You're just knitting them together. This makes the "ear" portion of the hat double thickness. I live in Oklahoma and have to feed animals during the windy and cold winters. A good hat is a must have item. One of my pet peeves has been that hats don't keep your ears covered enough. This one does!!
***NOTE: The contrasting color stripe is what makes it reversible (and different on each side). The line of contrast color is only on one side of these two ends of the same fabric. ***
Once you have connected the two ends, continue in pattern until the hat reaches 6 inches from the folded over lower edge. At this point, add stitch markers every 20 stitches, which will place 5 markers around. If you made your hat bigger, you will need to adjust the markers accordingly.
From this point on, Knit the Knits and Purl the Purls. After each marker, Knit two together through the back loop, even if one is a purl stitch.
When you are down to 20 stitches (30 for a more rounded look), Knit two together around, until you have 6 stitches. At this point, break the yarn and use a tapestry needle to pull the yarn through the remaining stitches and pull together to close the hole. Tie off and weave in your loose end.
If you put the other ends inside the two halves of the doubled portion, you won't have to weave in those ends.
That's it! Now you have a hat with two beautiful sides. One with a contrast line, one without.
My beautiful model is Lisa Page, age 12.
Merry Christmas!
Happy Holidays!
Happy Hanukkah!
And a wonderful new year!
www.thefineartofslow.com
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