Troubleog Design
London Calling
London calling, now don't look to us Phoney Beatlemania has bitten the dust London calling, see we ain't got no swing 'Cept for the ring of that truncheon thing London calling, yes, I was there, too An' you know what they said? Well, some of it was true! London calling at the top of the dial And after all this, won't you give me a smile? London Calling I never felt so much alive, alive, alive... - The Clash Phoney beetles? . : . Transfiguration class in the Fall 2010 Harry Potter Knit & Crochet House Cup on Ravelry is changing beetles into buttons. Hence, a beetle (button) band hat using linen stitch and stockinette, knit in superbulky yarn. Size: Small (Large), to fit $20^{\prime\prime}\,(22^{\prime\prime})$ head circumference. Yarn: Malabrigo Rasta ( $100\%$ merino wool, 90 yards), 1 skein.
Other Materials:
US 15 $40^{\prime\prime}$ needles or size to get gauge. US 15 straight needle or size to get gauge. Tapestry needle. Two $7/8^{\prime\prime}$ buttons. Matching sewing thread and needle. Gauge: 8 st x 14 rows/4" in stockinette; 8 st x 20 rows/4" in linen stitch.
Designer's Notes:
The linen stitch used for the band is a bit less stretchy than stockinette; both sizes call for the same size band, which can be adjusted when sewing on the functional buttons. The crown of the size Small is shallower than the size Large.
Pattern:
Using long-tail CO method and a $90^{\prime\prime}$ tail, CO 49 st. Row 1 (WS): K1, p1 \* sl1wyib, $\mathsf{p}\mathsf{1}^{\mathrm{~*~}}\mathsf{K}\mathsf{1}$ Row 2 (RS): K1, \* sl1wyif, K1 \*. Rows 3-11: Repeat these two rows 4 more times, and then repeat row 1 once. AT THE SAME TIME, make buttonhole at beginning of rows 3 and 9 by knitting those rows as follows: K1, p1, yo, p2tog, \* sl1wyib, p1 \* K1. Row 12 (Overlap brim and join to knit in the round): Hold band in a circle, with RS facing out. Slip first 7 stitches on right working needle (above the buttonholes) to spare size 15 straight needle. Hold the spare needle in front of and parallel to the left working needle. PM and insert right working needle into first stitch on spare needle and first stitch on left working needle behind it, and knit them together as one. Repeat for next 6 st. Next 6 (8) rounds: K. (42 st). Next round: \* k5, K2tog, pm \*. (36 st). Next round: K. Next round: $*\textsf{K}$ to 2 st before marker, K2tog \*. (30 st). Next round: K. Repeat these two rounds one time. (24 st). Next Round: $*\ \mathsf{K}$ to 2 st before marker, K2tog \*. (18 st). Repeat this round once. (12 st). Next Round: \* K2tog \*. (6 st). Repeat this round once. (3 st). Cut yarn leaving $6^{\prime\prime}$ tail. Thread tail on big-eye tapestry needle, and pull through three remaining st. Weave in ends and block. Try the hat on and mark button placement for a comfortably fitting band. With matching sewing thread and needle, sew buttons as marked and button the band to fit. Trim thread.
