This an easy hat pattern, but sometimes such a thing is hard to find.

I made it for my son, Pete, who is very particular in his taste. Like most knitters I fear that my efforts will end up on the rag pile, so on one of his visits home I asked him for specific instructions on just exactly what sort of hat he would like to wear.

The result was two versions, one in butterscotch, a gorgeous golden shade of chunky, soft Blue Sky Worsted (worn by Polly, above), the other in an evergreen shade of Koigu Kersti, a classic dk. They both have long bands of ribbing that can be folded back watch cap style.

The circumference of both hats is 33cm[13"] in 2/2 rib unstretched and will fit a medium-large head 48-56cm [19-22"]

Here are the instructions.

POLLY’S HAT:

Materials

Blue Sky Alpacas Worsted Hand Dyes; 1 skein  2022-butterscotch

Size 5mm [US8]  40cm circular needles

Size 5.5mm double pointed needles (DPNs)

tapestry needle

stitch marker

Cast on 72 sts on smaller needle. Join in round, taking care not to twist. Place marker.

Work K2, P2 rib for 16cm.

Change to DPNs and work 9cm in stst (all rounds knit).

Begin decreases:

Round 1: *K6, k2tog; repeat from * to end. –63 sts.

Rnd 2 and all even rounds: Knit

Rnd 3: *K5, k2tog; rep from * to end. –54 sts.

Rnd 5: *K4, k2tog; rep from * to end. –45 sts.

Rnd 7:*K3, k2tog; rep from * to end. –36 sts.

Rnd 9: *K2, k2tog; rep from * to end. –27sts.

Rnd 11: *K1, k2tog; rep from * to end. –18 sts.

Rnd 13: *K2tog; rep from * to end. –9 sts.

Break yarn and thread through remaining stitches. Pull tight and with tapestry needle, weave in ends on WS of hat.

PETE’S HAT

Worn above, with the ribbing folded back twice.

Koigu Kersti; 1 skein shade K1510

Size 3.75mm [US5]  40cm circular needles

Size 4mm[US6] double pointed needles

tapestry needle

stitch marker

Cast on 104 sts on smaller needle. Join in round, taking care not to twist. Place marker.

Work K2, P2 rib for 16cm.

Change to DPNs and work 9cm in stst (all rounds knit).

Begin decreases:

Round 1: *K6, k2tog; repeat from * to end. –91sts.

Rnd 2 and all even rounds: Knit

Rnd 3: *K5, k2tog; rep from * to end. –78 sts.

Rnd 5: *K4, k2tog; rep from * to end. –65 sts.

Rnd 7:*K3, k2tog; rep from * to end. –52 sts.

Rnd 9: *K2, k2tog; rep from * to end. –39 sts.

Rnd 11: *K1, k2tog; rep from * to end. –26 sts.

Rnd 13: *K2tog; rep from * to end.–13 sts.

Break yarn and thread through remaining stitches.  Pull tight and with tapestry needle weave in ends on WS of hat.

Tomorrow I leave on my trip to TNNA in Ohio and then New York. Shipping for South Seas Knitting will continue while I’m away. In the meantime, happy knitting!

Thank you for your comments on my 80’s knit parade last week. I really appreciate it. I did not mean to apologize for the 80’s. I have very fond memories of that decade: I arrived in the USA, my children were young, small enough to willingly wear anything I knitted them and sit on the back of my bicycle, I was young and because of that, could wear shoulder padded jumpsuits and not look silly. I also wore apple green-and-hot-pink cowboy boots, Native American Seminole skirts cinched at the waist with a silver belt, and my ears dripped with turquoise. It was an exciting time in fashion.

For a moment, the 90’s will have to wait. They’ve been interrupted by this news flash from my friends at Koigu: Maie Landra’s latest design, this stunning dress.

I’m absolutely wowed by it. Doesn’t it look like something Maid Marian might wear in Sherwood Forest? When I look at it I see many influences:  the Renaissance, 1970’s caftan, art deco, and most important, a future when we will all be wearing comfortable ankle length hand knits that hide a multitude of sins and are also elegant and fashionable. What do you see?

Evidently a simpler version of this will be appearing in Vogue Knitting Fall 2010. For fans of Koigu Kersti, the lovely model is none other than the little girl the yarn was named after, quite grown up now.