Friday, December 14, 2012

UpCountry Hat: a free pattern

I am loving the hat I made to match my UpCountry Cowl:


(just much as I'm loving the cowl, which is saying something.)

I've been testing in some pretty chilly weather: it's warm, and very comfortable.  It was easy to knit in just a couple of evenings, and it really does make the most of stripey yarn without having put me to any particular effort at all.  I think it would look great on a guy, and I might even consider making one as a chemo hat, for daytime or sleeptime use, because it's so squishy and soft.


The checkerboard-ish stitch pattern seems to hug my head well, and trap a bit more heat than plain stockinette.


And the ribbing that's folded up inside the bottom of it is not only very snug and just right for over my ears, it gives a purl ridge a chance to be the  bottom edge for a change.


Especially nice: for some reason (the inside ribbing? the accordian effect of the stitch?) my coat collar doesn't push it up out of the way.  And even if it did, the transition from texture to stocking makes the crown fall flat instead of sticking up with a hint of 'she's hiding something up there.'


And really, how cute are those circles at the top?  I don't think I'll ever get tired of that look in a stripey hat.


UpCountry Hat

Materials
Twisted Fiber Art
Duchess Self-Striping yarn (100% superwash merino wool, 240 yards, 100g), 1 skein
4.0mm 16” circular or double point needles, or size to obtain gauge
stitch marker
darning needle


Gauge
20 sts, 28 rows = 4” in stocking stitch, after blocking

Finished Dimensions
S (M, L): 16.5 (18, 19.5)” circumference; 7 (7.25, 7.5)” long once the ribbing is folded inside the hat. Using Duchess, size M fits comfortably on a 22” head.


Level of Difficulty
Easy: stitches include knit, purl, and knit two together.

1 comment:

Renik said...

Lovely! I like colours and the pattern. I don't know if I'm talented enough to do it but maybe I'll try one day. :)