Knitty: Summer 2006

Knitty: little purls of wisdom

© Knitty 2002-2006. All rights reserved. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. This means you.

fetching carpathia perdita muff knucks reptilian rpm widdershins
baudelaire lickety split dancing lady tulip toes lacanauhalfdomemaze
crosspatch sock monkey klein bottle swell julie manresa allete lilies
universal toe-up sock formula

by Jesse Loesberg After moving to San Francisco, my bald head needed a mid-weight hat that wouldn't make my scalp itch. All of the standard watchcap patterns I could find had decreases that made the final product look, well, ridiculous. By combining raglan-style decreases with a simple roll-edge, and using yarn with merino, microfiber and cashmere, I was able to design a hat that met all of my Bay Area needs. Little did I know, all of my bald friends would love it, too. Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran comes in a ton of colors, so mixing and matching is easy, and the hat knits up in no time at all.
models: Jed Arrogante, Yoni Fine, & Jesse Loesberg photos: Zoe Gladstone


SIZE
Child [Adult, Large Adult (or adult with lots of hair)] (shown in Adult)

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS
Circumference: 18[20, 22] inches

MATERIALS
Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran [55% merino wool, 33% microfiber, 12% cashmere; 98yds/ per 50g skein] [MC] #611 Red Wine OR #615 Orange OR #501 Khaki Green; 1 skein [CC] Color: #104 Silver Grey; 1 skein 1 set US #3/3.25 mm straight needles 1 set US #5/3.75 mm straight needles OR SIZE NEEDED TO OBTAIN GAUGE Tapestry needle Stitch markers

GAUGE
24 sts/32 rows = 4 inches in stockinette stitch

PATTERN NOTES
[Knitty's list of standard abbreviations and techniques can be found here]
S2KP: Slip next 2 sts as if to knit them together, knit next stitch, pass slipped stitches, together, over stitch just knit. Forms a centered double decrease.

DIRECTIONS
Using smaller needles and CC, CO 110[122, 134] sts. Work in stockinette st until work measures 1.5 inches, ending with a WS row. Break CC. Next Row [RS]: Using MC and larger needles, k28[31, 34], place marker, [k27[30, 33], place marker] twice, k 28[31, 34]. Cont in stockinette st, using larger needles, until work measures 4[4.5, 5] inches, ending with a WS row. Next Row [RS]: K2, k2tog, [k to 3 sts before marker, ssk, k1, slip marker, k1, k2tog] 3 times, k to last 4 sts, ssk, k2. 8 sts decreased. P 1 row. Repeat these 2 rows 10[12, 13] times more. 22[18, 22] sts remain. Child's, Large Adult's Sizes Only: Next Row: K2, [S2KP, k2] 4 times. 14 sts. P 1 row, removing stitch markers. Next Row: K1, [k2tog, k2, ssk] twice, k1. 10 sts. Break yarn, leaving a 12-inch tail. Draw through remaining sts and pull tight. Adult's Size Only: Remove stitch markers when working next row. Next Row: K1, [k2tog, ssk] 4 times, k1. 10 sts. Break yarn, leaving a 12-inch tail. Draw through remaining sts and pull tight.

FINISHING
Use yarn tail to sew hat seam. Mattress stitch is recommended. Weave in ends.

ABOUT THE DESIGNER
Jesse Loesberg lives in the San Francisco Bay Area, where he is both a writer and a knitting designer.
Pattern & images © 2006 Jesse Loesberg. Contact Jesse