Slip-Stitch Stash Hat
By Renee Rico
This hat is colorful and toasty warm, especially when made with animal fiber yarn! Use up your stash leftovers for a colorful topper, or fewer colors for a more coordinated appeal. Slowly variegated yarns are also a terrific option.
Materials:
About 150-200 yards of worsted-weight and aran weight yarns. 16 In (40 cm) Circular needle in Size 7 (4.5 MM) or size needed to get gauge darning needle stitchmarker
Gauge
Garter stitch: 4.5 stitches = 1 inch Slip-stitch pattern: 4 to 4.5 stitches per inch Stockinette stitch: 5 stitches = 1 inch
Sizes
18 inches (20, 22)
Instructions
Cast on and Brim
Using long-tail cast-on, cast on 80 (90, 100) stitches. Join in round, placing stitch marker at beginning of the round. Round 1: Using Color A, knit. Round 2: With A, purl. Round 3: Using Color B, knit Round 4: Using B, purl. Repeat Rounds 1 - 4 once, then knit Rounds 1 and 2 once more. If you want to make this hat even warmer, do an additional 20 rounds of this garter patter to fold up the brim over the ears. (This will use more yarn.)
Body
The Slip-Stitch pattern is a six-round pattern with even number of stitches: Round 1: Knit with Color A Round 2: With color B, \* k1, slip 1 (with yarn in back) \* for the whole round. Round 3: With B, \* p1, slip 1 (with yarn in back) \* for the whole round. Round 4: Knit with Color C. Round 5: With Color D, \* slip 1 (with yarn in back), k1 \* for the whole round. Round 6: With D, \* slip 1 (with yarn in back), p1 \* for the whole round. Repeat 1 - 6 rounds, switching in colors as you feel like it. If you only have enough yarn for one round, use it for either Round 2 or 5, since that creates the purl bump, and gives a “pop" to the round. Knit in round until the hat measures 6 (7, 8) inches from the beginning, ending with either Round 3 or Round 6.
Crown
Switch colors in and out as you wish to make a "bullseye" at the top of the hat. It is easier to do this on the odd-numbered rounds, which are plain knit rounds. Round 1: Knit. Round 2: \*K8, k2tog \*, repeat to end of round. Round 3 (and following odd numbered rounds).: Knit Round 4: \*K7, k2tog \* , repeat to end of round. Round 6: \*K6, k2tog \*, repeat to end of round. Round 8: \*K5, k2tog \*, repeat to end of round. Round 10: \*K4, k2tog \*, repeat to end of round. Round 12: \*K3, k2tog \*, repeat to end of round. After this round, there are no more plain knit rounds. Round 13: \*K2, k2tog \*, repeat to end of round. Round 14: \*K1, k2tog \*, repeat to end of round. Round 15: \*k2tog \*, repeat to end of round, Knit 0 (1, 0) Cut yarn. Draw through the loops with darning needle twice. Weave in ends.
Blocking
Soak in tepid water 20 minutes. Gently squeeze out water by rolling in a towel. Place over a small mixing bowl and let dry. To reach Renee Rico, go to: www.revknits.wordpress.com Ravelry:revknits Version 1.0 11/14/2009 Copyright 2009 Renee Rico. Permission is granted to make items for personal use only. All other rights reserved. Reprint, or any other reproduction, or production of items for sale only with the permission of the author.
