Free Pattern: Carolina Jasmine Hat

Carolina Jasmine Hat
By Katie Rose Pryal
of The Knitty Professors
http://knittyprofessors.blogspot.com

Here in North Carolina, we have a flowering and nigh indestructible plant called Carolina Jasmine. It can grow anywhere: abandoned lots, town dumps, superfund sites, etc. Despite its hardy nature, it is beautiful, with yellow flowers that give a deep fragrance. Unlike a lot of flowers around here, the G. sempervirens is native to this part of the world. I grow it on the front of my brick home, and it is slowly clambering to the roofline. This hat is inspired by the plant: the Leaf Motif around the middle, the Vine Motif at the crown, and the small crocheted flowers added at the end.

Yarns pictured
Dark Red: Manos del Uruguay Silk Blend, 1 skein, 50 g/150 yards.
Bright Pink: GGH Java, 2 skeins, 50 g/99 yards.

Needles
1 pair US size 4 circular needles, 16 inches in length.
1 pair US size 6 circular needles, 16 inches in length.
1 pair US size 6 circular needles, any length OR one set of US size 6 DPNs. (The top of the hat is worked in the double-circular method, but if you know how, you may use DPNs.)
Size 4mm crochet hook for optional flowers.
Yarn needle.

Stitch Abbreviations
SSK = slip, slip, knit. Slip 2 stitches knit-wise from left to right, place them back on the left needle, then knit together. Creates a left-leaning decrease. You can substitute a SKP if you would prefer.
K2tog = knit two stitches together. Creates a right-leaning decrease.
SK2P = slip, knit two together, pass slipped stitch over. Creates a centered, two-stitch decrease.



PATTERN
Using smaller needles, CO 100 sts for Sport/DK weight yarn (the dark red yarn pictured) and 80 sts for Worsted/Aran (the bright pink). Join for working in the round. (Pattern requires multiples of 20 sts.)

Work p2, k3 rib for 2.5 inches for shorter hat (dark red) or 3.5 inches for longer hat (bright pink). Switch to larger needles. (It is important that you p2 first, and then k3, and not the other way around.) Work 1/2 inch more.

Begin Leaf Motif Increases
Round 1: *p2 k1, m1, k1, m1, k1* repeat ** to end of round.
Round 2: *p2, k5* repeat ** to end of round.
Round 3: As round 2.
Round 4: *p2, k1, yo, k3, yo, k1* repeat ** to end of round.
Round 5: *p2, k7* repeat ** to end of round.
Round 6: As round 5.
Round 7: *p2, k1, yo, k5, yo, k1* repeat ** to end of round.
Round 8: *p2, k9* repeat ** to end of round.
Rounds 9, 10, 11, 12: As round 8.

Begin Decreases
Round 13: *p2, ssk, k5, k2tog* repeat ** to end of round.
Round 14: *p2, k7* repeat ** to end of round.
Round 15: As round 15.
Round 16: *p2, ssk, k3, k2tog* repeat ** to end of round.
Round 17: *p2, k5* repeat ** to end of round.
Round 18: As round 17.
Round 19: *p2, ssk, k1, k2tog* repeat ** to end of round.
Round 20: *p2, k3* repeat ** to end of round.
Round 21: As round 20.
Round 22: *p2, s2kp* repeat ** to end of round.
Round 23: *p2, k1* repeat ** to end of round.
Round 24: As round 23.



Vine Motif on Crown
Round 25: *p2, k1, p1, k2tog* repeat ** to end of round.
Round 26 and all even-numbered rows: Purl the purl sts and knit the knit sts.
Round 27: *p2, k1, k2tog* repeat ** to end of round.
Round 29: *p2, k2tog* repeat ** to end of round.
Round 31: *p1, k2tog* repeat ** to end of round.
Round 33: *k2tog* repeat ** to end of round.
Round 34: As row 26.

You should now have 8 sts on your needles if you CO 80 and 10 sts on your needles if you cast on 100. Break yarn leaving 8 inch tail. Using yarn needle, thread yarn through remaining stitches and pull tight. Pass yarn to the interior of the hat and weave in the end.

Crochet Flowers
Using leftover yarn, chain five sts then join for working in a circle. Work two single crochet sts into each st for one round--10 sc total. To create five "petals," chain 5, then skip 1 st and sc into the next one. Repeat five times. Break yarn leaving a long tail to sew the flower onto the hat. Make as many as you like.