My Hat of Choice

Hat wearing season has officially begun here in Maine, and with it--lots of knitting. I've been making this hat for a few years, and it's my favorite hat to make--it's got enough spice to it that I don't get terribly bored knitting it, but it still knits up quite fast (it's a two-movie hat to be precise). The only problem has been that I never write down exactly how I make it. So each fall, I have to fiddle around with the pattern until I remember it again. No more! I wrote it down this time, and here it is for my reference, and for you too, if you're interested.

Yarn: Heavy Worsted (i love to use Manos del Uruguay for this hat), gauge of 4 sts to the inch.
You need: size 9 (or whatever size you need to get gauge) circular needles, and dpn's in the same or slightly smaller size for finishing the top.

Cast on 67 sts., on circular needles. Join for working in the round.
Work in garter stitch (k1 round, p1 round) for 1", then:
Round 1: K1, *yo, k2tog* repeat to end of round.
Round 2: Repeat row 1
Round 3: Purl
Round 4: Purl
Round 5: Purl

Repeat the pattern of these five rounds for a total of 5 times (this will make a hat that just covers your ears, if you like it longer or shorter, either subtract or add one more of the five row pattern).

K 2 rounds plain, then begin decrease (switching to dpn's when needed):

K1, *k4, k2tog* repeat to end of round.
K one row
K1, *k3, k2tog* repeat to end of round.
K one row
k1, *k2, k2tog* repeat to end of round.
K one row
k1, *k1, k2tog* repeat to end of round.
*k2 tog* to end of round.

Gather stitches at top and weave in ends.

Let me know if you make it--I'd love to see it, or if you find any errors in it (I hope not!).

Comments

[laurie]

thanks amanda!!! love it and love manos (it's my personal fav) think i will cast one on this weekend.

[erin]

Thanks for your pattern, I have been looking for a pretty hat to fit my yarn gauge, and I think this is it!

[Ness]

OOh it's delightful, it has become hat wearing weather here in England,yay, so this is great timing.
Thank you for being generous with the pattern.
Ness

[Kristen]

Thank you Amanda! I will try my hand at hats now ~ this is very cute and it looks very fetching on you, esp. the pink!

[Brandie]

Amanda! I have been looking for a hat pattern! You know I need to be knitting 5 hats. Hmm...that's 10 movies and it's Thanksgiving weekend, done! Thanks so much for sharing! Happy Thanksgiving :)

[jean]

Great hat, Amanda!! My goal is to understand (and MAKE) that pattern someday in the future. You always look great in hats! It is spitting snow outside as I write. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving.

[gkgirl]

i love the hat...great colors...
i am just starting to learn to knit
and actually, had to take a break
because my knuckles hurt too much
(is that normal???)
heehee
i wish i knew more about it though...
sigh
oh well, with time it will come
(my mantra) heehee

[Dee]

Cute! Adding this to my "must knit" list.

[Bertha]

Yay! as a new knitter, I love finding cute patterns that I can actually execute! Thanks so much for the pattern! I have some nice Malabrigo that I think would work for this...

[Kat]

Great hat! I'll be adding this to my weekend knitting.

[Anamaria]

If I could wear a snug hat without squashing/frizzing/electrifying my curly hair, it would look like that one! Is it a pink version of the hat you were knitting in yesterday's (beautiful) SPT?

[Emily]

beautiul hat! I definately want to make them for my sister and my mom! once knitting patterns stop sounding like japanese, I think i will tackle this project, although it may take me a whole season of six feet under to finish.

[Annie]

It's a cute pattern. I've been looking for a fun hat for both my daughter and myself. Thanks!

[Heather]

That is the cutest hat, wish I knew how to knit, i've been meaning to learn. 2 years ago my husband and I took a road trip and our turn around point was Bangor main. We spent some time in Acadia park, it was so beautiful there. Reading your blog reminds me of being there sometimes.

[maria]

it's so GREEK to me.......... i need a teacher!!!!
happy thanksgiving pal, mav

[hannah]

perfect hat! thank you so much for the pattern, i will get on it, seeing as how i have two movies waiting me from my que. ALL of th manos yarns are so yummy...mmmmm.... have a happy thanksgiving!!

[melissa]

thanks for the beautiful hat pattern! It's just turning into summer here in New Zealand, but I'm going to print out your pattern to knit for a friend in the UK... I love it!

[Robyn]

Love the hat pattern. I am adding it to my ever-growing To Do list.

[PAULA]

im from argentina i cant believe you use manos del uruguay!!!

[molly]

i love this hat, and i'm always looking for new inspiration. thanks for sharing it! i love knitting hats in the round...

[knittingnurse]

Just what I've been looking for, pretty but simple. THANKS SO MUCH for sharing!

[Shirra]

Love the hat! I have been looking around for a fun new hat to try that doesn't take a ton of concentration. I have the odd skein of Manos, too, so how perfect. Thanks for sharing.

[Amanda]

This was just what I needed this weekend, thanks so much for posting it! I made two (modified a bit), and am starting on another two. All for babies, so they're quick. (You can see a photo of one of them here: http://zhinkadinkadoo.typepad.com/zhinkadinkadoo/2005/11/hats.html)

[hutch brown]

HI AMANDA !
i love those new photos of all your people on the couch. They really make me laugh. i'm glad Banjo is working out too...
Went to the Bikram yoga yesterday courtesey of you and Steve and it was awesome.
Peace and can we impeach Bush tomorrow ? Wanna ? it'll be fun !

[Rita Rodrigues]

i would like to try but I'm not sure about the meaning of: *yo, k2tog*.

please help!!!

[Zoya]

Amanda,
Your pattern is just perfect for the last minute gift hat for my sister. She picked out a skein of Manos in green last your for me to make into a hat. I finished it in record time. Thanks

[Tarilyn]

Amanda, Thanks so much for posting this pattern. I am the woman from Jo Ann fabrics -we met just after Thanksgiving. I made several of these hats for gifts this Christmas and two for myself and other knitting friends are making it too. Don't be surprised to see them on heads all around town! It is now my favorite hat pattern! Thanks again!

[Karen]

Amanda, Love the pattern. I knitted on up and have a picture posted in my blog. www.inknittingnews.blogspot.com I'm thinking of knitting up a little one for my daughter.

[Zoe]

I almost never read blog archives, but I was so glad I did when I came upon this toque! Such a nice design. I've just finished one and posted it on my site. Thanks for including the pattern, it really is so nice.

[Tammy]

Oh, thank you for posting this here! I'm going to the movies with my daughter and her friends tomorrow and needed something to keep me from falling asleep. thank you! thank you!

[Renae]

It's been 30 years since my grandmother taught me to knit. Over Christmas, my 12 yo niece asked me to teach her. Now I'm obsessed with yarns, colors, patterns, stitches, and projects! My husband asked for a comfy sleeping cap that wasn't too warm. I used a red manos de uruguay and your pattern for my first hat -- my husband adores his soft, lacy cap! Thanks a million!!

[Ragged Around The Edges]

SouleMama,
I have so fallen in love with this pattern. I have searched for something that was light and airy and worked with different types of yarns for all seasons. This was the ticket.

I have made several, but am a novice knitter, so please don't look too closely, but I have posted them to my blog here:

http://raggedaroundtheedges.blogspot.com/2006/01/finished-objects-2005-2006.html

[Cat]

I made your hat. It's a lovely pattern - thanks so much for sharing it! I blogged about it on 7-10-06. I haven't made my friend try it on yet, but I bet he'll like it!

[Louise]

Hey, I just made this hat, but with a modification I thought you might be interested in. Instead of purling rows 3-5 in the pattern section, I knitted, and then knitted all the way up to the top including decreases. But wait! Here was my stroke of genius. THEN I TURNED IT INSIDE OUT. This meant that it was purl all the way through, including decrease, which was the main reason I'd decided to knit anyway (because I didn't love how the decreases looked compared to the rest of the hat). Anyway, thanks for the pattern.

[Cynthia N.]

I made one of these and was absolutely thrilled with how it fit and how it looked on me (usually I hate me in hats! but this one I loved me in it!) I have now decided that everyone I love and care for needs one of these. I'm working on number 5 now and and a friend at work just told me...after seeing me wear mine again... she needed one too!!! So I have a long list of hats to make. Thank you so much for sharing this pattern and I think I will be remaking these every winter too because I can see myself wearing this one out!!!

Thank you again for sharing this wonderful pattern!!!!

[Nina Newall]

How many skeins do i buy to make this hat?
i want to try the Manos del Uruguay yarn, but don't know how many to buy, also what size head does it fit?
Can't wait to start.

[Lisa]

I just finished my hat. It is absolutely divine!! Thank you for the lovely pattern and for inspiring me on a daily basis. You rock!!

[LindsayChristine]

I just finished knitting this hat! I love it and you were right, it was a two movie knit.
If you'd like to take a peek at the finished product, it's posted on my blog here:
http://facingglory.blogspot.com/2008/03/off-to-highlands.html