Snowflakes on Mulberries Hat
Design by Amy Klimt. A fancy name for a hat that's quick, easy, and makes a great gift for anyone . The 6-fold symmetry of the decreases on top of this stretchy ribbed hat form a snowflake when worked in the ice-blue stripes of this shade of Silk Garden Lite.
Yarn: Noro Silk Garden Lite ( $45\%$ Silk, $45\%$ Mohair, $10\%$ Lambswool);137 yards [125 meters]/50g): Color 2043, 1 ball. Needles: Size US 6 needles [4mm], or size needed to get gauge: 16" [40cm] circular, 1 set double-pointed needles. Notions: 7 stitch markers (6 in one color, 1 in another), tapestry needle. Gauge: 30 sts and 34 rows per $4"$ in k2, p2 ribbing, unstretched. Abbreviations: CO: cast on k: knit p: purl st: stitch rnd: round rep: repeat PM: place marker SM: slip marker k2tog: knit 2 together ssk: Slip 2 stitches knitwise individually, then knit these 2 stitches together through back ioop CO 120 sts on circular needle using long-tail cast on. Place marker and join to begin working in the round, being careful not to twist. Work k2,p2 ribbing as follows: Rnd 1: $^{\star}\mathsf{K}2$ , p2.\* Repeat between \* to end of round. Repeat Rnd 1 until work measures 5" [13 cm] or 3" [8cm] less than total desired length. Crown Decreases Setup round: (K2, p2) twice, k1, PM, k1, p2. \*(K2, p2) four times, k1, PM, k1, p2.\* Repeat between \* four more times. End (k2, p2) twice. Decrease round:
\*Work in pattern (knit the knits and purl the purls) until 2 sts before marker, k2tog, SM, ssk.\* Repeat between \* to end of round. Work 2 rounds in pattern without decreasing. Repeat these 3 rounds (1 decrease rnd, 2 rnds worked even in pattern) until 24 sts remain, switching to double-pointed needles when necessary. Do not work the last st of $2^{\mathsf{n d}}$ plain round with 24 sts. Slip this st to beginning of round, moving beginning-of-round marker. Round should begin and end with 1 purl st. Last round: \*K2tog, remove marker, sk.\* Repeat between \* to end of round. 12 sts remain. Break yan, leaving a tail Thread tail onto tapestry needle and pass through remaining sts twice.Weave in ends. The hat may look a little nipple-y when flat, but not when it is being worn. It can be blocked to look rounder if desired.
