Tuesday, January 27, 2009

Fast Hat Four Ways


I made up this hat when I decided, not long before Christmas, to knit some for about 14 different (and differently sized, aged, and style-type) people. It's fast and it's flexible and it's free for your knitting pleasure.

View .pdf of Fast Hat Four Ways

8 comments:

Carol Ann said...

Hi. Are with knitting with 6 dpns? You have us cast stitches onto 5 needles. I'm confused as to which needle you want us to begin knitting.
Thanks!
Carol Ann

Mary Keenan said...

Sorry for the confusion there!

I wanted to keep the marker for the end of the row in the middle of one needle, so by using all five for the cast on and making the first needle you used the right-hand working needle, and the last needle you used the left-hand one, you achieve that. Once you've emptied that first left-hand needle you're working on four dpns with a fifth for knitting onto. Hope that helps!

Carol Ann said...

Thank you! I probably would have figured it out if I had started the hat:) So the needles with 8 sts is the needle to start knitting with. Got it!!Your explanation is a big help. I especially like the way you describe to turn the hat and get rid of the caston bumps.
Carol Ann

Mary Keenan said...

It's so nice of you to say so - thanks!

Anonymous said...

Hi Mary . I'm a beginner and want to make this hat, but I'm not able to follow the instructions provided. Can you simplify it or show in a video? Would really appreciate your help.

Mary Keenan said...

I should get around to doing videos some time, but right now I'm not able to, no - do you have a local yarn store or know any knitters who could show you over the pattern and help you out live and in person?

Linda Kildow, Happyrock Stamper said...

Your Fast Hat Four Ways looks wonderful. I love that you have a version for 2 different placements of the pony tail!
I have a question about the pony tail version. The way I am reading the pattern (and I am no expert), it looks like you are basically making a button hole area for the pony tail. You decrease, then immediately increase. Am I right? It doesn't seem like there will be enough room for a pony tail.

Mary Keenan said...

Linda, you're absolutely right about the buttonhole. It covers enough stitches to accommodate a pony tail and stretches vertically too as you use your fingers to pull the tail through. I have thick hair and never had trouble with my wool version but if you subbed in acrylic or cotton (no elasticity on either) you might want to go for 9 or 10 stitches, experimenting till you get the right size :^)