Judith Hat
This is a simple hat I designed for a
friend who is learning to knit. Because
the band is knit flat, it's easy to adjust
the size to fit your head and the
snugness you want. Knit the band, then
wrap it around your head to see if you
want it longer or shorter before you take
it off the needles. The bulky yarn makes
it knit up fast. The skills you need to
knit this project are: 1x1 ribbing, kfb
increases, k2tog decreases, YO (yarn
over), and picking up stitches along the
edge of the band. I used the Magic Loop
method for all but the last rows of the
crown. For a good demonstration of the
Magic Loop method search for it on
YouTube.com, or watch this one I
found: https://youtu.be/1mqIqRdJc68.
DIFFICULTY
Easy.
MATERIALS
Two 50g (98 yards) balls of Crystal
Palace Cuddles, or any bulky weight
yarn.
NEEDLES
1 40-inch U.S. 10 circular needle and
one set of U.S. 10 DPNs, or size to
produce gauge.
NOTIONS
Yarn needle and one large button.
GAUGE
14 stitches x 20 rows=4"
ABBREVIATIONS
CO=Cast on
BO=Bind off
YO=Yarn over
kfb=Increase one stitch by knitting into
the front then back of the loop
k2tog=Knit two stitches together
k=Knit
p=Purl
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Copyright 2015 Elsa Frohman
DIRECTIONS
CO 11 stitches
Knit 22 inches in 1x1 rib beginning and
ending with a k on the right side and
beginning and ending with a p on the
wrong side.
When you have a strip of ribbing 22
inches long, overlap the end by 1" and
try it on your head (or the head of the
person you're knitting for). If you want
it looser, knit a few more rows of
ribbing. If you want it tighter, rip out a
few rows. The instructions are written
assuming the band will be a 21" circle
(22 inches minus 1" of overlap).
Button tab: You're going to make a
rounded end on the band. This will be
where you will sew the decorative
button.
On the next row knit across in pattern
(knitting the knit stitches and purling
the purl stitches) until there is one stitch
left on the left needle. *With the yarn in
back, turn the work. Knit the first stitch
(not the one you left on the needle),
then pass the stitch you left behind over
the new stitch. This is one stitch BO.
Knit across the new row in pattern, once
again leaving one stitch on the left
needle.* Repeat between * *
Repeat what you did with the first two
rows, except on the next two rows you
will BO one more stitch (BO 2), leaving
5 stitches on the needle. BO the last five
stitches and weave in the end.
Measure 21" from the square end of the
band and place a pin or marker. Bring
the square end to the marker so the
button tab is on the outside of the circle.
Sew down the square end, then sew on
the button, going through all layers so it
tacks the tab in place.
Crown: Now pick up 90 stitches along
the top edge of the band. Pick up the
stitches from the inside layer when you
get to the button tab. If your gauge is
right, 90 stitches will be just about
every stitch along the edge of the band.
If you don't get the right number,
though, you can correct it on the next
row. Count your stitches and if you're
short, on the next row do kfb increases
or k2tog decreases, evenly spaced
around the row, to get the right number.
Place a marker at the beginning of the
next row.
Row 1: Knit all stitches.
Row 2: Eyelet row: *k2tog, YO* 45
times.
Row 3: Knit all stitches.
Continue, knitting all rows until the
crown measures 4" from the band.
Decrease rounds: Row 1, *k8, k2tog*
9 times. 81 stitches remaining
Row 2 and all subsequent even
numbered rounds, knit all stitches.
Row 3, *k7, k2tog* 9 times, 72 stitches
remaining.
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Copyright 2015 Elsa Frohman
Row 5, *k6, k2tog* 9 times, 63 stitches
remaining.
Row 7, *k5, k2tog* 9 times, 54 stitches
remaining.
Row 9, *k4, k2tog* 9 times, 45 stitches
remaining. (Note: Here's where I
switched to DPNs.)
Row 11, *k3, k2tog* 9 times, 36
stitches remaining.
Row 13, *k2, k2tog* 9 times, 27
stitches remaining.
Row 15, *k1, k2tog* 9 times, 18
stitches remaining.
Row 17, k2tog 9 times, 9 stitches
remaining.
Cut the yarn, leaving a long enough tail
to thread it on your yarn needle and pass
it through all nine remaining stitches.
Remove the needles, pull the stitches
tight and pass the yarn to the inside of
the hat (if it's not there already). Weave
in all ends.
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Copyright 2015 Elsa Frohman