Photos: Nicole Ratliff Model: Zackary Sizes 6 months (12-18 months, 2T-3T, 4T-6+) Shown in 4T-6T+
Stature
By Talitha Kuomi Having spent a few years singing in local clubs, I deeply love many flavors of music. It moves me. The unexpected twists of improvised jazz, the strong emotions of the blues and the constant forward motion of rock especially get to me. My son, at age 4, is already a very soulful boy. He can be found often in his room singing into his Peavey amp and rat-a-tat tatting on his drums. This hat was knit for him. It looks very much like what the grown-up boys in my life wear out and about at night. The bright contrast of the colors is based on the lasting impression the sidewalk musicians of New Orleans left in me, and all of the festiveness of that still recovering town.
Finished Measurements
Head Circumference: 18[19, 20, 22] inches
Materials
chet ^Tarn’ [100% repurposed cotton t-shirts ; 63-76 yds per men's XL t-shiri Red (Color A); 90[110, 110, 120] yards Tan (Color B); 10[18, 22, 24] yards Black (Color C); 3[6, 7, 8] yards
Recommended needle sizes
US #7/4.5 mm double pointed needles (set of five) US #7/4.5 mm 20[20, 24, 24] inch circular needle
Notions
Sewing needle and thread to sew down ‘tarn’ ends during finishing
Gauge
17 sts and 25 rows = 4 inches square in St st
Pattern Notes
Although this hat has some give to it, it is not meant to be worn stretched tightly like a winter hat. This means that the hat circumferences look big on paper, but in real life they work really well. The boy in the photos is 5 and a half, but the hat fit equally well on my four year-old son and my 10 year-old daughter. When deciding which size to knit, you want to choose the size of 'Stature' that is the same measurement or a tad larger than the wearer's head.
Skills Required
Knit, purl, k2tog, ssk, knitting in the round, knitting on dpns, changing yarn colors
INSTRUCTIONS
BRIM
Beginning with color A (red), cast on 92[100, 108, 120] sts. Place marker and join to knit in the round. Work in k2, p2 ribbing for 3[3, 4, 4] rnds.
BRIMDECREASES
Size 6 months only First Decrease Rnd: (K2tog, k7) to last 2 sts, k2, slip marker: 82 sts. Next Rnd: Knit around, slip marker. Second Decrease Rnd: K5, (k2tog, k14) to last 13 sts, (k2tog, k11), slip marker: 77 sts. Next Rnd: Knit around, slip marker. Third Decrease Rnd: (K2tog, k17) to last st, k1, slip marker: 73 sts. Next Rnd: Knit around, remove marker.
Size 12-18 months only First Decrease Rnd: (K2tog, k8) around, slip marker: 90 sts. Next Rnd: Knit around, slip marker. Second Decrease Rnd: K5, (K2tog, k13) to last 10 sts, k2tog, knit around, slip marker: 84 sts. Next Rnd: Knit around, slip marker. Third Decrease Rnd: (K2tog, k17) to last 8 sts, k2tog, k6, slip marker: 79 sts. Next Rnd: Knit around, remove marker. First Decrease Rnd: (K2tog, k7) around, slip marker: 96 sts. Next 2 Rnds: Knit around, slip marker. Second Decrease Rnd: K5, (k2tog, k17) to last 15 sts, k2tog, knit around, slip marker: 91 sts. Next 2 Rnds: Knit around, slip marker. Third Decrease Rnd: K1, (k2tog, k13) to end, slip marker: 85 sts. Next 2 Rnds: Knit around, remove marker. SIzes 41-0+ 0my First Decrease Rnd: (K2tog, k8) to end, slip marker: 108 sts. Next 2 Rnds: Knit around, slip marker. Second Decrease Rnd: K5, (k2tog, k16) to last 13 sts, k2tog, knit around, slip marker: 102 sts. Next 2 Rnds: Knit around, slip marker. Third Decrease Rnd: K10, (k2tog, k15) to last 7 sts, k2tog, knit around, slip marker: 96 sts. Next 2 Rnds: Knit around, remove marker.
All Sizes
Turn the knitting so you have the inside of the hat facing you. From here until the knitting of the stripes is done, you will knit back and forth, like on a flat piece, instead of in the round. This allows the stripes to match up with one another smoothly when you sew them together at the end. Now, to begin The Stripes.
THE STRIPES
Sizes 6 months and 12-18 months only
Row 1 (WS): Change to Color B, purl across. Row 2 (RS): Knit across. Row 3: Change to Color C, purl across. Row 4: Change to Color B, knit across. Row 5: Purl across. Row 6: Change to Color A, knit across, place marker and get ready to start knitting in the round again. Skip from here to the next section titled SIDES OF THE HAT. Sizes 2T-3T and 4T-6+ only Row 1 (WS): Change to Color B, purl across. Row 2 (RS): Knit across. Row 3: Purl across. Row 4: Change to Color C, knit across. Row 5: Purl across. Row 6: Change to Color B, knit across. Row 7: Purl across. Row 8: Knit across. Row 9: Change to Color A, purl across. Row 10: Knit across, place marker and get ready to start knitting in the round again.
SIDES OF THE HAT
Continuing in Color A, knit each rnd (slipping the marker as you come to it) until hat measures 1.5[1.75, 2, 2.25] inches from the top edge of the stripes.
THE CROWN
Size 6 months only
Rnd 1 (RS): Purl around (this rnd forms the edge where the side of the hat meets the top), slip marker: 73 sts. Rnd 2: Knit around, slip marker. Rnd 3: K1, (ssk, k7) around: 65 sts. Rnd 4: Knit around to last 2 sts, ssk, slip marker: 64 sts. Rnd 5: Knit around, slip marker. Change to dpns. Rnd 6: (K1, ssk) to last st, k1, slip marker: 43 sts. Rnd 7: Knit around, slip marker.. Rnd 8: (K1, ssk) to last st, k1, slip marker: 29 sts. Rnds 9 and 10: Knit around, slip marker. Rnd 11: (K1, ssk) to last 2 sts, k2, slip marker: 20 sts. Rnd 12: (K1, ssk) to last 2 sts, k2, slip marker: 14 sts. Rnd 13: (K1, ssk) to last 2 sts, ssk, slip marker: 9 sts. Cut a 12 inch tail. Thread the tail through the last 9 sts and pull tail to the inside of the ha
Size 12-18 months only
Rnd 1 (RS): Purl around (this rnd forms the edge where the side of the hat meets the top), slip marker: 79 sts. Rnds 2 and 3: Knit around, slip marker. Rnd 4: K1, (ssk, k3) to last 3 sts, k3: 64 sts. Rnds 5 and 6: Knit around, slip marker. Change to dpns. Rnd 7: (K1, ssk) to last st, k1, slip marker: 43 sts. Rnd 8: Knit around, slip marker. Rnd 9: (K1, ssk) to last st, k1, slip marker: 29 sts. Rnds 10 and 11: Knit around, slip marker. Rnd 12: (K1, ssk) to last 2 sts, k2, slip marker: 20 sts. Rnd 13: (K1, ssk) to last 2 sts, k2, slip marker: 14 sts. Rnd 14: (K1, ssk) to last 2 sts, ssk, slip marker: 9 sts. Cut a 1z mcn tal. 1mmeau te taln umougin te last 9 sts anu pun tani to ue msiue oi ue mat. Size 2T-3T only Rnd 1 (RS): Purl around (this rnd forms the edge where the side of the hat meets the top), slip marker: 85 sts. Rnd 2: Knit around, slip marker. Rnd 3: (K2, ssk) to last st, k1, slip marker: 64 sts. Rnds 4 and 5: Knit around, slip marker. Change to dpns. Rnd 6: (K1, ssk) to last st, k1, slip marker: 43 sts. Rnds 7-9: Knit around, slip marker. Rnd 10: (K1, ssk) to last st, k1, slip marker: 29 sts. Rnds 11 and 12: Knit around, slip marker. Rnd 13: (K1, ssk) to last 2 sts, k2, slip marker: 20 sts. Rnd 14: (K1, ssk) to last 2 sts, k2, slip marker: 14 sts. Rnd 15: (K1, ssk) to last 2 sts, ssk, slip marker: 9 sts. Cut a 12 inch tail. Thread the tail through the last 9 sts and pull tail to the inside of the hat.
Sizes 4T-6+ only
Rnd 1 (RS): Purl around (this rnd forms the edge where the side of the hat meets the top), sli marker: 96 sts. Rnds 2 and 3: Knit around, slip marker. Rnd 4: (K1, ssk) around: 64 sts. Rnds 5-7: Knit around, slip marker. Change to dpns. Rnd 8: (K1, ssk) to last st, k1, slip marker: 43 sts. Rnds 9-11: Knit around, slip marker. Rnd 12: (K1, ssk) to last st, k1, slip marker: 29 sts. Rnds 13 and 14: Knit around, slip marker. Rnd 15: (K1, ssk) to last 2 sts, k2, slip marker: 20 sts. Rnd 16: (K1, ssk) to last 2 sts, k2, slip marker: 14 sts. Rnd 17: (K1, ssk) to last 2 sts, ssk, slip marker: 9 sts. Cut a 12 inch tail. Thread the tail through the last 9 sts and pull tail to the inside of the hat.
FINISHING
Because tarn is stiffer than regular yarn, I found that weaving in the ends in the traditional way was bulkier than I liked. Since tarn is really very thin strips of t-shirt fabric, I used a standard sewing needle and thread for finishing. After snugging up each tarn end, I cut them about half an inch long and then sewed each one of them flat to the inside of the hat.
In Talitha's living room, there is an old marble topped cabinet that once belonged to her Grandma. The top drawer holds (among other things) 4 harmonicas, 6 kazoos, 5 plastic recorders and a tin whistle. Her children form ‘marching bands’ that run through the kitchen, into the hallway and then back again into the living room. If you can imagine this music mixed liberally with the happy, enthusiastic feet of at least three children, then you can imagine the soundtrack of Talitha's days and the backdrop to nearly all of her patterns. She can be found at www.TalithaKuomi.com. Pattern & images ? 2009 Talitha Kuomi. Feel free to contact Talitha at talithakuomi@ live.com.
