Lauren Joy

 

When I teach my beginners knitting class, our first project is a hat.  The students learn right away that they don’t have to be afraid of circular needles or even double pointed needles.  This hat is great for a beginner who wants just a little bit more of a challenge and who wants to get their feet wet working with 2 colors. 

You should have enough yarn left to make another hat with the complimentary color as the main color and vice versa.

 

 

US #7 (4.5 mm) needles, 16” circular and set of double pointed needles

Cascade Sierra (100 gr, 192 yds), 1 hank purple (MC), 1 hank lime green (CC). 

 

Gauge:  4 ins (10 cm) = 20 sts

 

Sizes:  0-6 mos (6 mos, 12 mos, 2-4 yrs); actual hat circumferences 12” (15”, 16”, 17”)

 

CO in MC 60 (66, 72, 78) sts using circular needles.  Join in a round being careful not to twist the sts. 

Round 1: Purl even

Round 2: Knit even

Round 3-4:  Repeat Round 1 and 2.

Round 5-6: Knit even

Round 7:  K3, * [insert right needle into next st, wrap yarn twice around needle and draw through and pull st off left needle] 3 times, k9 (k8, k9, k8); repeat from * end last repeat with k6 (5, 6, 5).

Round 8:  With CC, k3, *sl 3 sts wyib unwrapping extra wrap, k9 (k8, k9, k8): rep from * end last repeat with k6 (k5, k6, k5).

Round 9:  P3, *sl 3  wyib, p9 (p8, p9, p8); end last repeat with p6 (p5, p6, p5). 

Round 10: K3 *sl 3 wyinb, k9 (k8, k9, k8); end last repeat with k6 (k5, k6, k5).

Round 11:  Repeat round 9.

Round 12:  With MC, knit even until hat measures 4” (4.5”, 5”, 5.5”).

 

Begin decrease rounds, switch to dpn's when knitting gets too tight:

Round 1:  *K8 (k9, k10, k11), k2tog, place marker; repeat from * to the end.

Round 2 (and all even rounds):  Knit even

Round 3:  *knit until 2 sts before marker, k2tog, sl marker; repeat from * to the end.

Repeat round 2 and 3 until 12 sts remain.  Cut yarn, draw through 12 sts and pull tight.  Weave ends in. 

 

Optional:  To make a less pointy, more rounded hat, decrease every round. 

Make a tassel with the CC or decrease until 3 sts remain and work an I-cord for 3” then tie in a knot.