Aunt Nimny's Knits
Yarn
The Catbird Hat
Aunt Ninny knows you want to sit pretty in the catbird seat, so sbe wrote up a pattern to put you there! Knit in Debbie Bliss' Paloma, a luscious and springy chainette yarn, this bat has a slit up the back so it nestles down over your ears. The brim frames the face in an easy-as-pie twisted cable rib. Knitting Fever's Bubbles chunky merino yarn provides the colorful stripes and retro pom poms, but you could substitute any interestingly textured yarn with good results. A fun, fast, and festive winter knit! Go abead, tweet about it! Or just purrrrrrr. Main color (MC): 2 skeins Debbie Bliss Paloma (50g/71yds),color 09 Basil or 02 Pebble Contrasting color (CC): 1 skein Knitting Fever Bubbles (100g/approx 72yds) Bubbles colors used in the samples: #1 Peach Yellow, #7 Coral,#5 Rose Lilac, #12 Olive Charcoal, #6 Denim. Ifyou make all the stripes the same color, you will need one skein of Bubbles. If you want different colored stripes allow about 13 yds of yarn perstripe. The pom poms use about 10 yds. You can make them out of a single color, or mix yarns-the sample uses 2 strands of Bubbles and one of Paloma.
Size
One size. This hat is designed to be slouchy with slack in the back. For a snug fit, go down a needle size.
Gauge
On US 10 1/2 needles, 14 sts/24 rows = 4 inches
Tools
US 10 1/2 16 inch circular needle US 10 1/2 dpns for top decreases Stitch markers & yarn needle
Pattern Notes
For the twisted cable stitch, k2 as follows: K into back of second st, do not remove st from needle, k into first st, pull both sts off needle.
Hat Directions
With MC, CO 74 sts. Work back and forth on size 10 1/2 needles in twisted cable rib pattern: Row 1: k2, p2,\*k2 in twisted cable (see notes above), p2; repeat from \* to last 2 sts; k2 Row 2: p2, k2; across, ending with p2. @ 2013 Lynne Nathan This pattern is for personal use only. All rights reserved. lepeat rows 1 and 2 for 2 1/2 inches, finishing at the end of a wrong side row. Switch to CC1 (first contrast color). K one row. Join in a circle and work in tbe round: work 4 rounds in reverse stockinette stitch (rev St st--purl every round). Switch back to MC. K 6 rounds. Switch to CC2. K one round. Work 4 rounds rev St st. Switch back to MC. K 6 rounds. Switch to CC3. K one round. Work 4 rounds rev St st. Switch back to MC. K 6 rounds. Switch to CC4. K one round. Work 4 rounds rev St st. Switch back to MC. K 6 rounds, on last round, decrease 4 sts evenly around, 70 sts remain. Next round: k8, k2tog; around. Following round: k7, k2tog; around. Repeat decrease round knitting one less st between decreases on each round until 7 sts remain. Break yarn, leaving tail. Using yarn needle, thread tail through rem sts, pull tightly, and secure. Weave in all ends.
Pom Poms
Make three pom poms using 3 strands of yarn held together (2 CCs and 1 MC or any combination you like) on a piece of cardboard 2 1/2 inches wide. Wrap the three strands 25 times, slide them of the cardboard, and tie them tightly around the middle twice, leaving ends long. Cut all loops (do not cut the tails of the tie), fuff, and trim around ball with sharp scissors until pom pom measures 2 1/4 inches in diameter, or desired size. Sew one pom pom to the top of hat. Set the other two aside (out of reach of the cat!) while you make the ties.
I-Cord Ties
Knit two 3-stitch I-cords 12 inches long or desired length. Cut yarn leaving a long tail and run end through all sts to tighten. Sew ties to outer corners of hat brim securely using yarn tail. Attach one pom pom to the end of each tie by sewing tail through center of pom pom and fastening. Trim end even with outer edges of pom pom. Note: thebeige sample inthephoto usesa twisted cord insteadofanI-cordfor ties. Yumay use that methodifyouprefer
Blocking
Weave in any remaining ends and block hat by turning it inside out and blasting it with steam from your iron or steamer witbout touching iron to bat, then turn right side out and repeat. Smooth hat out slightly, especially around the stripes, and lay fat until dry.
Questions or problems? Tell Aunt Ninny at ninnyknits@gmail.com
