MR. FATTY RIBBED HAT

[Updated 1-1-08]

I first made this hat upon request from my writing partner, Todd. He spent two years in South America and discovered the joys of alpaca fabrics. Although he isn't a knitter, when I mentioned I worked with llama and alpaca yarns, he begged for a hat to replace the one he'd washed and felted by accident.

The hat needed to be warm, simple and, well, masculine.

Here's the finished product modeled by my husband:


Another version modeled by moi (made of Moda Dea Silk-n-Wool held triple-stranded):



I came up with a simple pattern that uses size 15 needles so it knits in a flash.

Needles: Two sets of size 15 circulars for double-circular method or size 15 dpns (do they even exist?). For instructions on double-circular method for knitting small things in the round--the only way to go i.m.h.o., check out this video on knittinghelp.com.

Yarn: One skein only of Berocco Ultra Alpaca held triple-stranded OR one skein of Cascade Pastaza held double-stranded. Cascade 220 will work as well, held triple-stranded.

Cast on 48 stitches.

Join to work in round. Place marker to mark beginning of round.

Rows 1-4: Work in k2, p2 rib.

Rows 5-8: Switch to wide rib pattern - k4, p4. **If you want a larger hat, here's where you should add more rows.**

Row 9: Decrease as follows - K4, p2, p2tog. Repeat to end of row.

Rows 10-12: K4, p3, repeat to end of row.

Row 13: Decrease - K4, p1, p2tog. Repeat to end of row.

Rows 14-16: K4, p2, repeat to end of row.

Row 17: Decrease - K4, p2tog. Repeat to end of row.

Rows 18-20: K4, p1, repeat to end of row.

Row 21: Decrease - K3, K2tog, repeat to end of row. (24 total sts)

Row 22-24: Knit.

Row 25: Decrease - K2, K2tog, repeat to end of row. (18 total sts)

Row 26: Decrease - K1, K2tog, repeat to end of row. (12 total sts)

Row 27: Decrease (last one!) - K2tog, repeat to end of row. (6 total sts)

Bind off by threading tapestry needle with yarn through remaining six sts and pull tight. Weave in ends. (See top view pictures below.)

Top View #1:


Top View #2:


p.s. Pattern is on Ravelry, now.

Finished Project: City Girl Cap

I've been going a little nuts with this pattern I found in the 2007 Crochet Pattern-a-Day calendar at Barnes and Noble (Annie Modesitt & Friends). The pattern is called the "City Girl Cap," and (dated for January 2, 3, and 4) by Celeste Young.


Basically, it's entirely made of front and back post double crochets. The nifty ribbing is little pairs of front-posts running around the crown. These each took me about 2 hours total, each using a little less than a skein. The blue is Lion Brand Wool-Ease Worsted; the green is Paton's worsted Merino (220 yards per skein) and the multi-colored one is made of left-overs of the green and blue plus some left-overs of Cascade 220 in pink from a different project. These are all the same weight and the stripes look great. Here's a close-up:


Here's me wearing the blue one. The striped one is a gift for my cool roommate T.H., but she doesn't know it yet.