Adventures of a Desi KnitterKnitting (and now sewing!) keeps an Indian academic sane in the States. Almost.

Stripey sideways hat pattern

§ February 8th, 2010 § Filed under Caps, Hats, Etc., Uncategorized § 9 Comments

So as requested here and on Ravelry, here is the detailed pattern for the sideways hat I posted about a few days ago.
UPDATE: .pdf link for download.

Gratuitous photo reminder:

I am posting the pattern here instead of as a downloadable .pdf, because I’d like some feedback first about steps I’ve missed or errors. If someone (Manisha?!) would test-knit it and let me know if the instructions make sense, that would be even better!

STRIPEY SIDEWAYS HAT

Level of difficulty: Advanced beginner/intermediate. Should know how to cast on provisionally, do kitchener stitch (grafting) or a three-needle bind off, and pick up and knit in the round with circular and double-pointed needles. All you need, really, are the excellent videos at KnittingHelp.com, which demonstrate all these techniques very clearly.

Yarn: Worsted weight (I used Karabella Aurora 8, 98 yards/50 gms), 1 skein each in two colours – one main colour (MC), and one contrasting colour (CC).

Needles: 1 size 6 16 inch circular needle, 1 set of double pointed needles in size 6, 1 tapestry needle.

Gauge: 5 spi in stockinette stitch, 4.5 spi in garter stitch.

Size: Women’s regular, approx 21-22 inches in circumference. (The garter ridges in the central band stretch a bit, so you can adjust its length depending on how loose-fitting or tight you want the hat to be, to fit a man or a child.

Central band: (knit back and forth)

1. Using the ‘provisional’ method, cast on 20 stitches with the MC yarn.
2. Knit two rows – one garter ridge created.
3. Switch to CC yarn, knit two rows – one garter ridge created.
4. Continue in this way, alternating one garter ridge in MC and CC, until the band measures 21 inches. End with a garter ridge in CC. We shall call the needle with these stitches Needle # 1.
5. Undo the crochet chain at the provisional cast on, and pick up the live stitches on to the second needle (Needle # 2) (Cotton yarn is great for this crochet cast on, it prevents the fibres from the live stitches from snagging on to the chains.)
6. At this point, Needle # 1 has 20 st in CC; Needle # 2 has 20 st in MC.
7. Holding both needles together, Needle # 2 in front and RS on the outside, facing you, graft the edges together.

NOTE: If you don’t like grafting, you can always do a three-needle bind off. Remember to do the bind off with the WS of the band facing outside!

Shape crown: (knit in the round)

1. Using MC and the RS facing you, pick up and knit 120 stitches along the right edge of the band with a circular needle. Knit 1 round.
2. *K10, k2tog, repeat * all around for a total of 10 times.
3. Knit 1 round even.
4. *K 9, k2tog, repeat * all around.
5. Knit 1 round even.
6. *K 8, k2tog, repeat * all around.
7. Knit 1 round even.
8. In this fashion, continue decreasing every other round (k7, k 6, k 5, etc) until you have knit k1, k2tog. Switch to double-pointed needles as the stitches get fewer and fewer for the circular needles.
9. Knit 1 round even. (20 stitches on needle.)
10. K2tog all around (10 stitches on needle.)
11. Cut yarn, leaving a 4 inch tail, and threading it through a tapestry needle, draw yarn through remaining live stitches a few times, and pull tight.

Shape cuff (in the round):

1. Using MC and the RS facing you, pick up and knit 120 stitches along the left edge of the band with a circular needle.
2. K2, p2 all around.
3. Repeat step 2 for ten rounds, or for as long as you would like the cuff of the hat to be.
4. Bind off all stitches knitwise, to ensure a firm edge.
5. Weave in all ends. Wear hat, enjoy!