SEMELE
By Letipanda
This pattern is my intellectual property. It's for PERSONAL USE ONLY. It means you cannot sell or distribute this pattern on commercial or non commercial purpose, fully or partially, or any objectbased on it. Contact me if you need any information LetipandaBC@gmail.com. Since I have always been fond of ancient Greek culture and mythology, I have dreamed to create a sweet hat : Sémélé. In the Greek Mythology, Sémélé was a human, lover of Zeus, who gave birth to Dionysus right at the moment when she burned at the sight of his lover. With this hat, I wanted to represent this scene. Zeus' radiance with yellow color, Dionysos' birth with lovely little green leafs burgeonning. Ribs edge large enough to cover the ears and a slight slouchy effect to contain rebellious hair. This hat is knit with light-weight yarn, but since it is soft merino, it will indeed keep you warm! About techniques : this hat is knit in the round, bottom up. There is a Fair Isle part, a slip stitches part (to createaslight wrinkle onthe side where you buttons are sewn) and if you wish, you may add a lovely pompom at the top. There is no negative ease in this pattern. We play with needles sizes to obtain a hat that holds on the head. Several sizes are available in this pattern, from child size to adult large size, yet without clear distinction. The sizes are indicated in centimeters. Choose the closer size to your head's circumference. The head's circumference corresponds to the measure of the forehead, the ears and the nape of the neck. In other words, the place where the ribs edge is put.
Material :
Thread : Fingering 4ply, between 70 and 220 yd of Main Color, between 12 and 55 yd of contrasting color, according to size. My version, size 58-60cm, I used BB Mérinos from Fonty (100% merinos, 50 gr = 220 yd) colors Moutarde (46gr, about 203 yd) and Tilleul (11gr about 50 yd). Circular needles 3 and 2.5 mm 3 markers. Gauge : 28 st.x 34 r = 10 cm in stockinette, in the round.
You have to respect this gauge if you want to obtain indicated final size.
In accordance with your thread's choice, choose needle size which give this exact gauge. Each size has been calculated to the right stitch as closely as possible, you will have a smaller or bigger hat if you do not respect the gauge. K2tog : Knit 2 stitches together.
Abbreviations :
K : Knit. P : Purl. st. : stitch(es). r : row. MC : main color. CC : contrasting color. SSK : Slip, slip, knit. Slip two stitches on the left needle, pick the back loops with the right needle and knit together. SKPO : Slip, Knit, Pass Over. Slip on stiche without knitting it, knit next two stitches together, pass the first stitch over the K2tog.
Advices and information:
You will find at the end of this pattern, in annexes p. 5, the elastic cast on technique used on this pattern, described step-by-step. I advise you to check it, even if you already know how to do it. All the important information are indicated in italic, underlined and colored. In this pattern, only important rows are written, the rest is simply pointed out. Count your rows. A direction between \*asterisks\* must be repeated. Do not forget to cross the threads during Fair Isle part. You can cross threads every 4 stitches, without tightening too much, it should be enough. I highly recommend you to read entirely the pattern before beginning, at least once, to avoid any kind of surprise. Moreover, always read entirely each paragraph before continuing. If you want to save paper and ink, print only pages 3 and 4, chart is on p. 5 ;) .
PATTERN :
Each size is indicated in this order with this color code 40-43 [44-46, 47-49, 50 -53, 54-57, 58-60] cm, 0r sizes 1[2, 3, 4, 5, 6].
1- Edge :
With the thinner needles and MC thread, cast on 112 [120, 128, 144, 152, 160] stitches with elastic cast on. No panic, if you do not know how to do it, there is a step-by-step p. 5. Place a marker at the beginning of the row. Each size is indicated in this order with this color code 40-43 [44-46, 47-49, 50 -53, 54-57, 58-60] cm, or sizes 1[2, 3,4,5, 6]. Knit ribs 2/2 (K2, P2) on 3 [4, 5, 5, 5, 5] cm.
2 - Body of the hat :
Take the bigger needles. On the next row, increase of 2 stitches anywhere on the row in a homogeneous way (for exemple with M1 increase). You have 114 [122, 130, 146, 154, 162] stitches. Then, count 56 [60， 64, 72， 76, 80]stitches, PM, count 2 stitches, PM. Careful : the two (or three) stitches placed between the markers should be knitted only on rows 1, 11, 13 and 23 of the chart. On the others rows of the chart, you must slip them on the right needle without knitting them and continue the chart as if they do not exist. Follow the chart on p. 6. Repeat the 8 stitches boxed in red. The green stitches on the chart must be done with CC thread. Once the chart is finished, decrease 4 [0, 0,0, 4, 0] stitches and increase 0 [8, 0, 4,0, 8] stitches on the next row. You have 110 [130, 130, 150, 150, 170] stitches. Knit 8 rows while slipping the 2 stitches between markers. On the next row, remove the markers. Now, you can knit them normally. Continue in stockinette until you have 10 [13, 15, 18, 20, 20] cm of total length (or more if you want a slouchier hat).
3 - Phase of decreasing :
Each rowof decreases subtract 20 stitches. Be careful, size 1 begins on row 4, sizes 2 and 3 begin on row 3, sizes 4 and 5 begin on row 2, size 6 begins on row1. R 1 :\*SSK, K13, K2tog\* (150 st) Knit 3 rows. R 2 :\*SSK, K11, K2tog\* (130 st) Knit 3 rows. R 3 :\*SSK, K9, K2tog\* (110 st) Knit 3 rows. R 4 : \*SSK, K7, K2tog\* (90 st) Knit 2 rows. R 5:\*SSK, K5, K2tog\* (70 st) Knit 2 rows. R 6 : \*SSK, K3, K2tog\* (50 st) Knit 2 rows. R 7 : \*SSK, K1, K2tog\* (30 st) Knit 1 row. R 8 : \*SKPO\*. (10 st). You have 10 stitches. Pass a thread through it, tighten up and weave in ends. Wet-block it to develop its slouchy side and bring out the Fair Isle. A littlo nomnon 2.or 3 buttons.and voil? l
A little trick？
Use a bowl as a blocker by putting the slouchy side on the convex face and the edge ribs inside :).
ELASTIC CAST ON : Make sure you have enough thread to cast on all stitches. 1 - Cast on 1 stitch, put the cast on thread on your forefinger and the knitting thread around your thumb, from inside to outside and keep a good thread tension with your others fingers. 2&3-Put the needle under the"outside"thread of thethumb. 4 - Then, put the needle under the thread of your forefinger and pull it through the thread of your thumb. 5 - Pull the two threads. You have got 1 st.
6 - Now, place the thread around your thumb from outside to inside. 7 - Put the needle under the "inside" thread of your thumb. 8- Put the needle under the thread of your forefinger and pull it through the thread of your thumb. 9 -Pull the two threads. You have got 1 new st. 10&11 - Repeat steps 1 to 9 (without casting on 1 st) until you have the given number of stitches.
