Knitty: Fall 2007

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by Emilee Mooney

This lace hat was inspired by my two favorite things about the fall: cool, crisp weather, and beautifully-colored leaves. Worked in either worsted or chunky Malabrigo, it is soft and warm, and perfect for covering your ears on blustery autumn days. The subtle variations in the kettle dyed yarn enhance the rustic leaf pattern.

This hat is worked from the top down, and the increases for the crown shaping are integrated into the lace pattern. The Leaf Lace pattern is the Openwork Leaf Pattern from A Treasury of Knitting Patterns by Barbara G. Walker, adapted to work in the round.

model: Marlee Mooney, Caroline Mooney photos: Emilee Mooney

SIZE

To fit an average adult head

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS

Circumference, unstretched: 17 inches
Will stretch to comfortably fit up to 24 inches.

MATERIALS

Version 1 [Chunky weight, shown in yellow]

Malabrigo Chunky [100% Merino wool; 104yd/95m per 100g skein]; Color: Pollen; 1 skein

1 set of five US #10.5/6.5mm double-point needles

1 16-inch US #10.5/6.5mm circular needle

1 16-inch US #9/5.5mm circular needle

Version 2 [Worsted weight, shown in red-orange]

Malabrigo Merino Worsted [100% Merino wool; 215yd/197m per 100g skein]; Color: Red Java; 1 skein

1 set of five US #7/4.5mm double-point needles

1 16-inch US #7/4.5mm circular needle

1 16-inch US #5/3.75mm circular needle

Both Versions:

Safety pin or split ring marker

Stitch Marker

Tapestry Needle

GAUGE

Version 1: 15 sts/20 rows = 4 inches in stockinette st using size #10.5/6.5mm needles
Version 2: 21 sts/24 rows = 4 inches in stockinette st using size #7/4.5mm needles

PATTERN NOTES

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

SKP: Slip 1 knitwise, knit next st, pass slipped st over. 1 st decreased.

SK2P: Slip 1 knitwise, k2tog, pass slipped st over. 2 sts decreased.

Leaf Lace (Worked over a multiple of 8 sts):
Round 1: [K2, SK2P, k2, yo, k1, yo] to end.
Even-numbered Rounds 2-12: K all sts.
Round 3: [K1, SK2P, k1, yo, k3, yo] to end.
Round 5: [SK2P, yo, k5, yo] to end.
Round 7: [Yo, k1, yo, k2, SK2P, k2] to end.
Round 9: [Yo, k3, yo, k1, SK2P, k1] to end.
Round 11: [Yo, k5, yo, SK2P] to end.
Repeat these 12 rounds for Leaf Lace Pattern.

PATTERN

Using double-point needle, CO 4 sts, leaving a 6-inch tail. Work back and forth on 2 needles as follows:
Row 1 [WS]: P4.
Row 2 [RS]: [Kfb] 4 times. 8 sts.

Divide sts evenly between 4 needles (2 sts on each needle) and join to begin working in the round.

K 1 round.
After the first few rounds have been worked, place a safety pin or split ring marker in the work to indicate the beginning of the round.

Shape Crown
Charted directions:
Note: Chart 1 is worked 4 times in each round.

For Version 1, work Rounds 1-13 of Chart 1. 68 sts.
For Version 2, work Rounds 1-19 of Chart 1. 100 sts.
Proceed to Hat Body.

Written directions:
For Version 1, work Rounds 1-13 below. 68 sts.
For Version 2, work Rounds 1-19 below. 100 sts.
Proceed to Hat Body.

Round 1: [K1, yo, k1] 4 times. 12 sts.
Even numbered Rounds 2-12 (Version 1) or 2-18 (Version 2): K all sts.
Round 3: [K1, yo, k1, yo, k1] 4 times. 20 sts.
Round 5: [K1, yo, k3, yo, k1] 4 times. 28 sts.
Round 7: [K1, yo, k5, yo, k1] 4 times. 36 sts.
Round 9: [K1, yo, k1, yo, k5, yo, k1, yo, k1] 4 times. 52 sts.
Round 11: [K1, yo, k3, yo, k1, SK2P, k1, yo, k3, yo, k1] 4 times. 60 sts.
Round 13: [K1, yo, k5, yo, SK2P, yo, k5, yo, k1] 4 times. 68 sts.
If making Version 1, proceed to Hat Body.
Round 15: [K1, yo, k1, yo, k2, k2tog, k2, yo, k1, yo, k2, SKP, k2, yo, k1, yo, k1] 4 times. 84 sts.
Round 17: [K1, (yo, k3, yo, k1, SK2P, k1) twice, yo, k3, yo, k1] 4 times. 92 sts.
Round 19: [K1, (yo, k5, yo, SK2P) twice, yo, k5, yo, k1] 4 times. 100 sts.

Hat Body
Work all sts onto larger circular needle as follows:
Next Round: [K to last st on needle, k this st together with first st of next needle] 4 times. The last st of the round will be worked together with the first st of the round. Place a st marker after this st to indicate beginning of round.
64 sts remain for Version 1, 96 sts remain for Version 2.

Work Rounds 1-12 of Leaf Lace pattern twice for Version 1, or 3 times for Version 2.

Ribbed Brim
Next Round: Using smaller circular needle, [p1, k1] to end.
Repeat this round 5 times more for Version 1, or 7 times more for Version 2.

Loosely BO all sts in pattern.

FINISHING

Use tail at CO end to sew up small hole in top of hat. Weave in ends.

Block gently, or do not block at all. The unblocked lace gives a more rustic texture, and the lace pattern will open up when the hat is worn.

ABOUT THE DESIGNER

By the time you read this, Emilee will be starting law school. Wish her luck.

She keeps a knitting blog here.