Pattern: Windy City Hat

ETA#2: Apparently I can't count! I've updated the gauge info below.
ETA: Pattern is now available as a PDF Ravelry download, too.

The Bears are already playing pre-season football games, and there was a cold bite to the air at North Avenue Beach the other night. Time to start knitting hats!

I designed this hat as a holiday gift for my dear friend Suzy last winter. I was inspired by the lace pattern that Melissa (AKA Indigo Mouse) used on the cuffs of her lovely Queen of Diamonds Fingerless Gloves (available here, too). Many thanks to Suzy for modeling!

Windy City Hat

Size:

Fits the average woman’s head. Add or subtract stitches in 8 stitch increments and adjust decrease rounds as needed.

Materials:

• Soft worsted weight wool or wool blend, approx. 110 yds. Suggested yarns: Knit Picks Andean Silk, The Plucky Knitter’s Merino Worsted, Cascade 220. The first time I made this hat with Andean Silk, I had to break into the second ball. The second time I got by with just one ball. So be on the safe side and buy two – you can always make a pair of Fetching or another hat with the extra.
• US 7 circular needles (16”) and DPNs or size needed for gauge
• Tapestry needle

Gauge:

19 sts = 4"

Be sure to check your gauge. I’m a loose knitter – I actually used US 6 needles. You may even need to use US 8.

The Plucky Knitter’s Worsted Merino (single ply) in “Cheeky”

Directions:

Cast on 80 stitches using either the cable cast-on or long-tail cast-on. Place marker and join to knit in the round.

Rows 1 – 4: work in k2, p2 ribbing

Rows 5 – 8: k all stitches

Row 9: (ssk, k1, yo, k1, yo, k1, k2tog, k1)

Row 10: k all stitches

Row 11: (ssk, k1, yo, k1, yo, k1, k2tog, k1)

Row 12: k all stitches

Row 13: (yo, ssk, k3, k2tog, yo, k1)

Row 14: k all stitches

Row 15: (k1, yo, ssk, k1, k2tog, yo, k2)

Row 16: k all stitches

Row 17: (k2, yo, sl2tog-k1-psso, yo, k3)

Row 18: k all stitches

Rows 19 – 28: repeat rows 9 – 18

Rows 29 – 42: k all stitches

*If you like having a longer hat that fully covers your ears, work a few more rows in stockinette*

Shape crown:
Switch to DPNs when it becomes too difficult to work on circular needles.

Row 43: (k8, k2tog)

Row 44: (k7, k2tog)

Row 45: (k6, k2tog)

Row 46: (k5, k2tog)

Row 47: (k4, k2tog)

Row 48: (k3, k2tog)

Row 49: (k2, k2tog)

Row 50: (k1, k2tog)

Row 51: k all stitches

Break yarn, leaving a 10" tail. Using a tapestry needle, thread the tail through the remaining loops on the needle and pull tightly until the hat top is closed. Weave in ends.

Pattern & images © Jodi Haraldson, 2008.

Pattern for personal and charity use only.

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Knit Picks Andean Silk in “Cranberry”