Pi Day Beanie Knitting Pattern: Celebrate Math with a Warm, Geeky Hat

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Pi Day Beanie: March 14

3.14.15

Stripes are NOT random!

Beanie: MINiMUM of 30 grams, 65 yards / 60 meters each of your two main colors, solid worsted weight yarn is best. You'll also need about 7 feet of black, white or gold for the decimal point stripe. Washable yarn is recommended. This includes enough to make a 3" diameter pompom. Hat pictured was made with Cascade 220 Superwash and Rowan 100% wool. Other options include Vanna's Choice from Lion Brand Yarns, Martha Stewart Crafts “extra soft wool blend" (65% acrylic, 35% wool), Plymouth Yarn Encore, and Lamb's Pride Superwash from Brown Sheep Co. or Wool of the Andes from Knit Picks. Needles: size 7 US (4.5 mm) 16" circular and DPNs OR one 40" circular for magic loop construction. Ring markers - 1 to mark beginning of round. 10 more for decreasing assistance GAUGE: 18 st = 4" on size 7 with stockinette stitch SKILLS NEEDED: Knit, purl, 1x1 ribbing, k2tog, adding a new color, working in the round

by Lynn Venghaus for Shamrock Knits..

Adult sizes: 20-21" (22-23")

These Pi hats are designed to keep your head warm and add a bit of geek fun in the process. The stripes are worked in rows that correspond to the digits in Pi - the formula for calculating the diameter or circumference of a circle. Using this free pattern, beanies can be constructed using the initial three rounds above the ribbing (shown here in yellow) to represent the 3, a contrasting stripe (shown in black) to mark the decimal and then working the number of rows for the first eleven digits that follow the decimal point (3.14159265358) or you can purchase the full pattern that includes instructions for knitting a stocking hat like the orange and black one shown with 24 digits after the decimal or a much longer version with 44 digits after the decimal where the tail can be wrapped about your neck as a scarf. The shaping is easy with the help of ring markers.

STITCHESANDABBREVIATIONS:

K =knit p=purl k2tog = purl two together S1 = slip one stitch purl-wise CC = Main Color MC = Contrast Color D = Decimal Color (usually black or white) is My MC is

INSTRUCTIONS:

With size 7 US (4.5 mm) and CC, cast on 80 (84) stitches If you're using the long tail method, you'll need about 6 feet of yarn. Be sure to hold the tail yarn over your thumb! After casting on, be sure to leave a tail about 6" long for weaving in upon completion. Work one row of 1x1 ribbing. Join being careful not to twist and continue in ribbing until 1- 1/4 to 1-1/2" from cast on edge. @2015 Lynn Venghaus Join MC and knit three rounds. To avoid a jog where the color changes, knit one round with the new color. As you begin the second round of the new color, slip the first stitch, knit the second and continue with this color for the number of rounds in the chart. To create the Pi hat, just imagine that each digit of pi represents a number of rounds. Three rounds of CC, then 1 round of black or white to represent the decimal point, followed by 1 MC, 4 CC, 1 MC, 5 CC, etc. As you knit the stripes, loosely carry the resting color up the inside. Don't cut it! When it is time to pick it up again, give a little tug to tighten up any gap that might have occurred. Twist the two colors around each other while knitting the first two stitches of the next stripe to help secure it in place. See the picture provided

.KNITTING THE BEANIE

Pi

DECREASING instructions for the Beanie

1: \*k 6, k2tog, place marker, repeat from \* to end of round [70 sts] 2 and all even numbered rounds: knit 3: \*k5, k2tog, slip marker, repeat from \* to end of round. [60] Continue in this fashion: k2tog before each marker in one round followed by one round without any decreases. Be sure to include changing colors to retain the pi sequence. When five stitches remain, cut a 6-8" tail, thread onto a tapestry needle, pick up all the stitches from the kniting needles onto the tail yarn and draw up tight. Fasten down and weave in ends. Add a pompom the size of your choice if you wish. nger versions are available on Ravelry and Etsy and can be purchased using PayPe

Shamrock Knits' Pi Beanie

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@2015 Lynn Venghaus What's your favorite Pie? Why not knit up some hats with colors that include similar yummy colors?How about Lemon Meringue using yellow and white or Apple Pie using the colors of Delicious and Golden, or Cherry Pie made with dark red and light tan for the crust, or my favorite: Chocolate Cream Pie with meringue using with brown and white? Or cheer on your favoriteschool withtheteam'scolors! The stocking hat is approximately 18-1/2 inches long from the cast on row..

ANDHOWABOUT36"PiHAT?

Let's go for 45 digits after the decimal point:! 3.1415 9265 3589 7932 3846 2643 3832 7950 2884 419716939 Now if you're really intoPi, there are instructionsfor a hat that is 3 feet long. This version uses 220 yards of each color and has two unique stripes. You'll need 7 ft of yarn for the decimal point stripe and the same for the zero that shows up 34 digits in. This longer hat/scarf combo goes to the 45'n digit after the decimal point and encompasses219roundsAFTERtheribbing.Theentirethingis worked in stockinette stitch but it isn't at all boring because of the changing number of rounds for each stripe. This long hat requires 220 yards of two colors but that's enough if you're knitting to gauge to finish and make a pompom too.

Pi = 3.1415 March 14, 2015 can be written as 3.14.15 so how about starting your celebration of 'pi' day at 9:26 a.m. and strive to eat 5 different kinds of pie throughout the day with 3 friends in five different locations! Fruit pie, cream pie, shepherd's pie, pot pie pizza pie but perhaps not mud pie. Though you might enjoy making a few of those with the children. Thank you for your interest in my designs. If you've a pattern idea you'd like to see created, I'm always looking for suggestions. Send me an email with your idea and ifI can create the pattern, you'll be the first to receive a free PDF!

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