Quickie Knit Hat

Though it's not often, sometimes I can complete a project in one evening! It was so quick, in fact, that I realized after it was gifted, that I forgot to photograph or blog about it!

Luckily, I gave this hat to my fiancé, for his birthday back in August, so it's still readily available. It's been washed and blocked, but not yet worn. After all, love is not expressed by wearing wool in an Arkansas summer.

I made this for him to replace his favorite beloved first hat via the Knifty Knitter. The poor thing was growing more ragged and pilled each day, so I designed a new and improved version, using the same exact yarn left over from nearly 4 years ago! This time, I used size 11 (8mm) knitting needles, and worked mirrored decreases, so it looks more tailored. Now it sits atop his shelf in the walk-in-closet, awaiting the first chill of autumn.


QUICKIE KNIT HAT

SIZE: 22" (55cm) in diameter, approx 8" (23) long

MATERIALS:

• 1 ball each of Lion Brand Wool Ease Thick-n-Quick (6oz/170g, 106yds/97m) in Navy (MC) and Denim (CC)


• Tools: Size 11 (8mm) set of 5 double-point needles
  
  (optionally a 16" circular needle can be used for the main portion, switching to dpn's when necessary)

GAUGE: 10 sts = 4" (10cm) in stockingnette

NOTE: This shape makes a slight poof on top of the head when worn normally, then nicely rounds out when pulled low on the brow. If you prefer a smooth skullcap, work about 5" long before beginning crown shaping.

PATTERN:

With CC, loosely cast on 56 sts, divide evenly over 4 needles (or on the circular), place marker (pm) and join to work in the round. Knit all sts for 16 rounds, then break CC and prepare for knitted-in hem.

Fold knitting in half, with the CO edge directly behind your working needle. Place the first CO loop on your left needle, and knit it together with the first st on your needle with MC. *Locate the next CO st, place on left needle, and knit it together with the next st on your needle with MC. Rep from * until hem is complete.

Work in St st in the round until hat is 7" (19cm) or desired length from bottom edge of hem, placing marker after 14th st, 28th st, and 42nd st, so there are 14 sts between each marker, to prepare for crown decreases.

Rnd 1: K1, *SSK, K to 3 sts before next marker, K2tog, K2, rep from * until 3 sts before last marker, then K2tog, K1.

Rnd 2: Knit even.

Rep these 2 rnds until 16 sts rem, ending with rnd 1.

Last Rnd: *SSK, K2tog, rep from * until end of rnd.

Cut yarn, leaving 12" tail, place first 4 sts on 1 dpn, and last 4 sts on another dpn, and use kitchener stitch to close top of hat (or just sew through all 8 sts and cinch shut). Hide ends.

Customizations for different sizes & gauges:

Modify the number of sts by adding or subtracting in increments of 4 sts. Depending on your multiples, you may end up with "Rep these 2 rnds until 20 sts rem, ending with rnd 1." In that case, your last 2 rnds will be:

Last Rnd 1: *SSK, K1, K2tog, rep from * until end of rnd.
Last Rnd 2: *K1, K2tog, rep from * until end of rnd.