Bubble Hat
Attention handspinners!
Knit from the top down, with no need for a preknitting gauge swatch! This pattern will work with almost any yarn, from fingering to chunky.
For maximum knitting pleasure, it is suggested you use a self striping type yarn. This pattern is also excellent for handspun yarn- the seed stitch will showcase the color variations beautifully. An original pattern by Virginia Tullock of FatCatKnits Copyright @ 2007. All rights reserved. Sample hat made with 2 balls of \*Rhythm", by Jojoland, 110 yards/ 50 gms, color # M09, available at www.jojoland.com, using #5 dbl pt and circular needles. This is a light worsted weight yarn. I knit rather loosely, so if you use this yarn, choose needles according to how you knit. Sample Gauge: 8 sts and 16 rows = 2 inches in Seed Stitch, #5 needles.
Materials
About 100 gms yarn, your choice. A set of 5 dbl pt knitting needles and a 16' circular needle, size appropriate for the yarn you are using. 3 buttons, 7/16 or 5/8 inch.
Instructions
Crown Cast on 8 sts. Join, making sure not to twist. Knit, distributing stitches evenly over 4 dbl pt needles. Knit every odd numbered row evenly. Rd 2- Kf&b of each st. 16 sts. (Kf&b- Knit in the front and back of the same stitc Rd 4- \*Kf&b, k1\* around. 24 sts. Rd 6- \*Kf&b, k2\* around. 32 sts. Rd 8- \*Kf&b, k3\* around. 40 sts. Rd 10- \*Kf&b, k4\* around. 48 sts. Rd 12- \*Kf&b, k5\* around. 56 sts. Rd 14- \*Kf&b, k6\* around. 64 sts. Now, check your gauge. You want to continue increasing as above, with one more stitch (st) between increases each round (rd), until you have enough sts to equal 23 inches (circumference). Once you have increased to this point, knit one rd even. You need to have an odd number of sts. Inc, if necessary, by Kf&b of last st in the rd.
Body
Now, work K1, P1, every rd, until the Seed Stitch section measures 5 inches.
Band
Knit the next rd, decreasing to 21 inches. Calculate how many sts equal 2 inches (the amount you are decreasing), and divide the total number of sts prior to decreasing by the number of sts you will decrease. This will tell you how many sts between decreases. For example, if your st gauge is 5 sts= 1 inch, work \*k8, k2tog\* (8+2=10, which = 2inches). You will again need an odd number of stitches. Work 1 inch as follows: \*K1, sl 1 (with yarn in front)\*. This gives you a nice woven st brim. Bind off (BO) in purl. Join with sl st to beginning, and break yarn.
Button Band
At point where you joined to the beginning of the BO row, starting at upper edge of brim, pick up one inch plus one st worth of sts vertically on brim of hat. You need an even number of sts. For example, if your gauge is 5 sts/in, pu 6 sts. Work back and forth, as follows Row 1 (RS) \*K1, [Sl 1 (as if to purl, with yarn in front), K1], end k1. Row 2 (WS) K1, [Sl 1 (as if to purl, with yarn in back), P1], end k1. Work until inches long. Make buttonhole (work over central 1/3rd of sts. For example,if you have 6 sts, work over central 2 sts). Make two more buttonholes, at 3 inches and 4 inches. Work 3 rows. Next rs row, ssk, k2, k2tog. Next row, ssk, k2tog, Next row, k2tog. Weave in ends. Attach buttons to band to match buttonholes.Block. Thank you for purchasing this pattern! FatCatKnits PO Box 144, Ilion, NY 13357 fatcatknits@gmail.com www.FatCatKnits.com Come visit FatCatKnits over on Ravelry!!
