Knitty: Fall 2007

<click for more!

by Ann Squire

A friend's request for a fun, machine-washable, non-pastel baby hat sent me to my local yarn shop in search of inspiration. When I got there, I was horrified to learn that, a) they were going out of business and, b) they had already sold off most of their stock.

Undaunted, I pawed through the sale bins, elbowing more than a few bargain hunters in the process, until I came across the perfect yarn. Great colors: check. Machine washable: check. Merino wool: a bonus! But only one or two balls of each color remained, and they were going fast.

No time to choose a pattern or decide which shades would go well together. I just scooped them all up and ran, determined to do something spontaneous and creative once I got home.

Although six different colors are specified for the hat, you won't come close to using them up. By combining the colors in various ways, you could get as many as five or six hats out of the six balls of yarn, depending on the size(s) chosen.

model: Will photos: Steve Levitsky and Ann Squire

SIZE

XS[S, M, L] Shown in XS (Hat with Lime Accents) and S (Hat with Apricot Accents).
To fit: 0-3 months [3-6 months, 6-12 months, 12-36 months]

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS

Circumference, unstretched: 11.5[13.75, 16, 18.25] inches
To fit head circumference: 12-14[14-16, 16-18, 18-20] inches

MATERIALS

Filatura di Crosa 501 [100% Superwash Merino wool; 136.5yd/125 m per 50g ball]; 1 ball each color (Note: Only a small amount of each color is used for each hat.)
Hat with Apricot Accents (blue brim):
[A] #1285 Blue
[B] #0003 Turquoise (color has been discontinued; substitute #1300 Teal)
[C] #2500 Purple
[D] #0504 Lime (color has been discontinued; substitute #1291 Lime)
[E] #2116 Turquoise
[F] #1295 Apricot

Hat with Lime Accents (lime brim):
[A] #0504 Lime (color has been discontinued; substitute #1291 Lime)
[B] #1285 Blue
[C] #0102 Baby blue
[D] #0232 Yellow
[E] #2116 Turquoise
[F] #2500 Purple

1 set US #9/5.5mm double-point needles
1 16-inch US #9/5.5mm circular needle (Optional; see Pattern Notes below.)
1 set US #7/4.5mm straight needles
8 stitch markers: be sure 1 marker is different from the others.
Tapestry needle

GAUGE

14 sts/18 rows = 4 inches in stockinette stitch using US #9/5.5mm needles and two strands of yarn held together

PATTERN NOTES

[Knitty's list of standard abbreviations and techniques can be found here]

If desired, the entire hat may be worked on double-point needles instead of using a circular needle. The two smallest sizes may be difficult to work on a circular needle due to their small circumferences.

With the exception of the flower, this project is worked using two strands of yarn held together. This can be done either by pulling one end from the center of the ball and one from the outside, or by winding the ball into two smaller balls.

The colors used in the two hats shown follow slightly different color sequences. At the points where the colors are used differently, they will be listed as follows: Hat with Apricot Accents [Hat with Lime Accents].

Directions for the Knitted Cast On can be found here.

PATTERN

Note: Hat is worked using two strands of yarn held together throughout.

Using A and circular needle, CO 40[48, 56, 64] sts. Place marker and join to begin working in the round, being careful not to twist. Use the marker which is different from the others.

K 10 rounds. Break A.

Using B, k 1 round.

P 1 round. Do not break B; it can be carried loosely along the inside of the work while working the next section.

Using C and D, work as follows:
Rounds 1 & 2: [K2 using C, k2 using D] to end.
Rounds 3 & 4: [K2 using D, k2 using C] to end.
Break C and D.

Using B, k 1 round.
P 1 round. Break B.

Using E, k7[8, 9, 9] rounds. Break E.

Using C[F], k 1 round.
P 1 round. Break C[F].

Using F[B], k 1 round.
Next Round: [P5(6, 7, 8), place marker] 8 times. Break F[B].

Switching to double-point needles when necessary, shape crown as follows:

Round 1: Using A, [k to 2 sts before marker, k2tog] 8 times.
Round 2: Using B[C], k all sts.
Repeat these 2 rounds 2[3, 4, 5] times more. 16 sts remain.

Next Round: Using A, [k2tog] around, removing all markers except end-of-round marker. 8 sts.
Next Round: Using B[C], [k2tog] around. 4 sts. Break B[C].

Slip remaining sts to one double-point needle. From this point, top of hat will be worked in I-Cord.

Work colors as follows:
Hat with Apricot Accents: Work first row of I-Cord with A, then break A and continue with D.
Hat with Lime Accents: Continue with A.

Next Row: Instead of turning work around to work back on the WS, slide all sts to other end of needle, switch needle back to your left hand, bring yarn around back of work, and start knitting the sts again. I-Cord is worked with the RS facing at all times.
Repeat this row to form I-cord. After a few rows, work will begin to form a tube.

Work 3 more rows as set.
Next Row: [K2tog] twice. 2 sts.
Last Row: K2tog. Break yarn, draw through last st and pull tight.

FLOWER
Using straight needles and 1 strand of F[D], CO 35 sts using Knitted Cast On. Leave a 5-inch tail at beginning of CO.
Next Row: [K1, BO 5 sts] 5 times. 10 sts on needle.
Break yarn and draw through all sts on needle. Pull tight to gather sts, forming a flower shape. Tie yarn tails together to secure.

FINISHING

Use yarn tails from flower to sew flower to top of hat. If desired, embroider a center for the flower using a contrasting color.
Weave in ends.

Block as desired. I put these hats through the washing machine's gentle cycle and laid them flat to dry. This yarn is alarmingly stretchy when wet, but regains its original shape as it dries.

ABOUT THE DESIGNER

In addition to knitting, Ann is obsessed with weaving, spinning, crocheting, quilting, and making dangly earrings out of felt.

See what she's up to now at www.annie-o.com.