Skill Level Rookie-Apprentice-Virtuoso-Genius

Skills knit, purl, decreases

Sizes baby, child, teen, adult small, medium, large, extra-large

Finished Measurements

• adult medium is approx 23 cm/9” wide and 35 cm/14“ tall lying flat (unfolded); see chart on page 2 for other sizes

Gauge

• approx 32 sts and 46 rows = 10 cm/4” in St stitch on 3 mm/US 2.5 • approx 28 sts = 10 cm/4“ in St st on 2.75 mm/US 2 as given on ball band

Yarn fingering weight alpaca blend

Note: You may use any 100 g skein of fingering – sock – 4-ply yarn…see chart on page 2 for amounts.

Needles

• 3 mm 40 cm (US 2.5 16”) circs

• 3 mm 40 cm (US 2.5 16”) dpns or size needed to obtain gauge

Notes: US 2.5 needles can be hard to find – you can use a US 3 instead. Some knitters prefer to use a smaller size needle for the ribbed brim only (like a 2.5 mm/US 2).

Other Materials

• tapestry needle or teeny crochet hook (for weaving in ends), stitch marker

Instructions

Notes: See chart below for help with sizing, etc. The “classic” Sockhead Hat is adult medium.
Section 1 (Ribbing)
Beginning at bottom with circs CO 112 (baby), 120 (child), 128 (teen), 136 (adult small), 144 (medium), 152 (large), 160 (extra-large) sts (or a multiple of 8) with long-tail method (or any preferred method). A multiple of 8 sts is required to make the decs work out.
Join in the rnd being careful not to twist sts. Pm for BOR. Sl m throughout.
Baby, child, teen: Work K2, P2 rib for 7.5 cm/3“. Adult small: Work K2, P2 rib for 9 cm/3.5“. Medium, large, extra-large: Work K2, P2 rib for 10 cm/4”.
Note: At this point, the hat may look really small, but the ribbing is very stretchy.

Section 2 (Stockinette Stitch)
Notes: Change to a larger size needle now if you used a smaller size for the ribbing. If you prefer a less slouchy hat, make this section a few inches shorter.
Work in St st (knit every st) for approx 13, 15, 18, 19, 20, 23, 25 cm/5, 6, 7, 7.5, 8, 9, 10”.
Hat measures approx 20, 23, 25, 28, 30, 33, 36 cm/8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14” long total from CO.

Decreases
Change to dpns when sts become too tight on circs.
You will be decreasing 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20 sts every third rnd until otherwise stated.
Rnd 1: *K6, K2tog*, rep from * to * to end of rnd. Rnd 2-3: Knit. 98, 105, 112, 119, 126, 133, 140 sts.
Rnd 4: *K5, K2tog*, rep from * to * to end of rnd. Rnd 5-6: Knit. 84, 90, 96, 102, 108, 114, 120 sts.
Rnd 7: *K4, K2tog*, rep from * to * to end of rnd. Rnd 8-9: Knit. 70, 75, 80, 85, 90, 95, 100 sts.
Rnd 10: *K3, K2tog*, rep from * to * to end of rnd. Rnd 11-12: Knit. 56, 60, 64, 68, 72, 76, 80 sts.
Rnd 13: *K2, K2tog*, rep from * to * to end of rnd. Rnd 14-15: Knit. 42, 45, 48, 51, 54, 57, 60 sts.
Decs are now worked every other rnd. Rnd 16: *K1, K2tog*, rep from * to * to end of rnd. Rnd 17: Knit. 28, 30, 32, 34, 36, 38, 40 sts.
Rnd 18: K2tog to end of rnd. Rnd 19: Knit. 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20 sts.
Rnd 20: K2tog to end of rnd (for sizes child, small and large end with a K1). Rnd 21: Knit. 7, 8, 8, 9, 9, 10, 10 sts.

Cut yarn. Pull through rem sts and tie off. Weave in ends. Block if desired. Enjoy!

Abbreviations

BOR = beginning of round

circ(s) = circular needle(s)

CO = cast on

dpn(s) = double pointed needle(s)

dec(s) = decrease(s)

K = knit K2tog = knit two stitches together (decrease)

m = marker

P = purl

patt = pattern

pm = place marker

rem = remaining

rep = repeat

rnd(s) = round(s)

sl m = slip marker

st(s) = stitche(s)

St st = stockinette stitch / stocking stitch

tog = together