Size: horizontally, slightly stretched, 53.5 cm.
Materials:
- 2 skeins of Highlander yarn by Alpaca with a Twist (5% wool, 45% alpaca, 10% microfiber; 100 g/133 m) – color #3015 (red-pink);
- circular and straight 5 mm needles;
- 1 decorative button, 2.5 cm;
- stitch markers;
- tapestry needle.
Gauge: 18 sts x 26 rows = 10 x 10 cm in stockinette stitch on 5 mm needles. Be sure to check your gauge!
Stitch Patterns Used
Cross 2 knit, 1 purl to the right: Slip 1 st onto a cable needle and hold behind work, k2, then p1 from cable needle.
Cross 2 knit, 1 purl to the left: Slip 2 sts onto a cable needle and hold in front of work, p1, then k2 from cable needle.
Cross 4 sts to the right: Slip 2 sts onto a cable needle and hold behind work, k2, then k2 from cable needle.
Cross 4 sts to the left: Slip 2 sts onto a cable needle and hold in front of work, k2, then k2 from cable needle.
Cross 2 knit and 2 purl to the right: Slip 2 sts onto a cable needle and hold behind work, k2, then p2 from cable needle.
Cross 2 knit and 2 purl to the left: Slip 2 sts onto a cable needle and hold in front of work, p2, then k2 from cable needle.
Twisted Aran – Tracks
(multiple of 8 sts + 2)
Rows 1 and 3 (WS): k2, *p6, k2; repeat from *.
Row 2: p2, *[knit the 2nd st before the 1st, then cross 2 sts to the right] x3, p2; repeat from *.
Row 4: p2, *k1, [cross 2 sts to the right] x2, k1, p2; repeat from *.
Repeat rows 1-4.
Knitting the Hat
Begin by knitting a headband with two oval Aran ear flaps, then pick up sts along the top edge of the headband and knit the top of the hat in 3 sections, which are sewn together at the end.
Headband
Right Ear Flap
Cast on 10 sts. Begin knitting following the oval chart.
Setup row (WS): k3, p4, k3. Continue following the chart through row 33.
Back Section
Work in the “Tracks” pattern until this section measures 10 cm, ending with a knit row.
Left Ear Flap
Begin with the WS setup row from the chart and work through row 33.
Front Section
Work in the “Tracks” pattern for 12.5 cm, then work row 1 of the chart.
Decorative Point
Next row (RS): p2, [k2tog] x3, p2 = 7 sts.
Next row: k2, p3, p2.
Next row: p1, k2tog, k3tog, p1 = 4 sts.
Next row: p1, k2, p1.
Cut yarn and pull through remaining sts; weave in tails.
Join the cast-on edge and the WS of the opposite side (at the beginning of the decreases) and sew the edges together.
Bottom Edge
Hold the piece with RS facing you, and starting at the right ear flap, pick up 27 sts along it, 22 sts along the front section, 27 sts along the left ear flap, 19 sts at the back = 95 sts. Next row: knit all sts (WS row). Next row: knit, increasing 5 sts evenly at each ear flap = 105 sts. Bind off all sts knitwise on the WS.
Top of Hat
Center Section
Hold the piece with RS facing you, starting in front at the tip of the headband, pick up 40 sts along the front section. Next row (WS): p3 (selvage sts form a chain).
Work row 1 of the “Tracks” pattern or twisted rib to the last 3 sts, p3 (selvage sts form a chain). Continue the “Tracks” pattern between the 3 edge sts for 30.5 cm, ending with row 4 of the pattern.
Next row (WS): p3, k2tog, [p6, k2tog] x4, end p3 = 35 sts. Next row: k3, p1, *[k2tog] x3, p1; repeat from * 3 more times, end k3 = 23 sts.
Next row: p3, k1, *p1, k1; repeat from * to last 3 sts, end p3. Bind off.
Sew the bound-off edge to the back section.
Side Section
Hold the piece with RS facing you, pick up 32 sts evenly along the top edge of the ear flap.
Beginning of Textured Rib
Row 1 (WS): p1 (selvage sts form a chain), k2, *p2, k2; repeat from *, end p1 (selvage sts form a chain).
Row 2: k1, p2, *k2tog through back loop but do not drop from needle, knit the same sts together through the front loop and drop from needle; p2; repeat from *, end k1.
Row 3: p1, k2, *p1, yo, p1, k2; repeat from *, end p1.
Row 4: k1, p2, *sl 2 sts as if to knit and pass over, k1, p2; repeat from *, end k1.
Repeat rows 1-4 four times.
Next row: p1, work to last st, p1.
Next row (RS, with decreases): sl 2 sts as if to knit and pass over, work to last 2 sts, k2tog = 30 sts.
Repeat the last 2 rows until 22 sts remain. Bind off. Sew the center and side sections together. Knit the second side section the same way.
Finishing
Weave in the tails. Sew on the decorative button – see photo.
