Materials
Yarn
1 skein Madelinetosh Vintage in Glazed Pecan (200yds) or similar worsted weight yarn.
Needles
Size H crochet hook (for cast on) US 5 16" circular needles US 7 16" circular needles US 7 double pointed needles (or 36" circular for magic loop)
Gauge
19 sts = 4 inches on US 5 17 sts = 4 inches on US 7
Size
Adult (21-23" head) The finished hat measures approx. 19" around. It will stretch! This hat has just the right amount of slouch. You can mark the back of the brim and always wear it in the same direction to 'set' the drape.
Foursquare
This hat brings to mind the boxy style of an iconic but understated American house. It is quick to knit and features a hemmed brim and four paired decreases that mimic the pyramid-shaped hipped roof found on foursquare houses.
Techniques Used
Crochet Provisional Cast On
To begin, chain a few stitches using your crochet hook and some smooth waste yarn. Then, place the hook in front of the needle you plan to cast on to. Pull the working yarn under and around the back of this needle. Hook the yarn and draw it through the chain on the hook. This creates a crochet stitch that wraps around the needle. Bring the working yarn around to the back once more. Continue casting on stitches this way until all stitches are cast on. Chain a few more stitches and secure the yarn tail. To cast on, knit into each of these stitches with your project yarn.
K2tog
Knit the next two stitches together, inserting the needle through both stitches, from left to right, as if to knit. When knitting the hem, you'll K2Tog from two needles. In this case, treat the stitch on the main needle as the left stitch and the provisional cast on needle as the right.
3. Repeat row 2 to desired width ending with MC.
Slip 1 stitch as if to knit, knit the next stitch, then pass the slipped stitch over the last stitch knit.
Instructions
Cast on 8O sts using the crochet provisional cast on. Place a marker and join to knit in the round.
Hat brim (hem)
Knit 6 rounds Purl 1 round Knit 6 rounds Place all provisional cast on sts on a spare 16" circular needle (any size between O and 6 will work) K2tog 1 round, taking one stitch from your main needle and one from the spare needle, until all on both have been knit and the spare needle is empty. This forms the brim of your hat, for a clean looking, non roll, stretchy edge.
Body
Knit in the round until hat measures 2 1/2" from edge. Switch to size 7 needles. This gives the top part of the hat a softer drape and makes it slightly larger than the brim. Knit for 4" more (until hat measures 6 1/2").
Decrease rounds
This hat is divided into four sections with decreases paired at the edges of each section. The decrease sections are offset from the beginning of the round. If working with DPNs, place 2O sts on each needle. Round 1: K8, \*k2tog, skp, k16\* until 12 sts remain, k2tog, skp, k8
K all even rounds (Don't forget!)
Round 3: K7\*k2tog,skp,k14\*until 11 sts remain, k2tog, skp, k7 Round 5: K6, \*k2tog, skp, k12\* until 10 sts remain, k2tog, skp, k6 Round 7: K5, \*k2tog, skp, k10\* until 9 sts remain, k2tog, skp, k5 Round 9: K4, \*k2tog, skp, k8\* until 8 sts remain, k2tog, skp, k4 Round 11: K3, \*k2tog, skp, k6\* until 7 sts remain, k2tog, skp, k3 Round 13: K2, \*k2tog, skp, k4\* until 6 sts remain, k2tog, skp, k2 Round 15: K1, \*k2tog, skp, k2\* until 5 sts remain, k2tog, skp, k1 Knit all stitches once more. Remove marker, break yarn, draw through all 16 sts. Weave in ends using a tapestry needle.
The History of the American Foursquare
The Foursquare consists of a square, two story building topped with a pyramid shaped roof. It will often include a front porch and a dormer in the center of the roof. It is often called a ‘transitional' style, due to its popularity around the turn of the century; many were built between 1890 and 1930. The layout is spacious and economical, especially for small city lots. Its symmetrical, boxy form could have been a reaction to the elaborate Victorian style that preceded it. Since the foursquare was seen as relatively neutral, you'll often find them embellished with the elements of many other house styles, including Victorian. Foursquares were easy and quick to build, due to their uniform structure. They were often sold as "kit homes" that could be purchased from catalogs like Sears & Roebuck. Foursquares also found popularity among well known architects like Frank Lloyd Wright, who used its form to design Prairie or Craftsman style homes. Foursquares are very common across America, especially in the Midwest. Next time you go for a walk in your neighborhood, see if you can spot one!
