Released in k*tog: Oklahoma Tornado Relief 2013
This aran-weight hat knits up quickly. Make one for all the solid rocks in your life to show them how rm your friendship is. The slip stitch brickwork pattern is a lot easier than real mortaring. It can be worn with the brim folded up for a neat, hip look, or slouchy like you just don’t care (even if you do).
Sample shown in Woolyknit Aran (100% wool; 78 metres // 85 yards per 50g) in Orange (MC) and Grey (CC);
MATERIALS
120 metres // 131 yards worsted or light aran yarn;
Needle A: 40cm // 16-inch circular needle, double-pointed needles, or preferred needle for working small circumferences, that gets you gauge;
Needle B: 40cm // 16-inch circular needle, double-pointed needles, or preferred needle for working small circumferences, two sizes smaller than Needle A;
1 stitch marker;
Tapestry needle.
GAUGE
20 sts x 36 rows = 10cm // 4 inches in Brickworks Pattern worked in the round, washed.
Suggested needle size = 5mm // US8
SIZING & DIMENSIONS
Hat circumference (unstretched): 46 cm // 18 inches;
Edge to crown length: 23 cm // 9 inches OR custom;
ABBREVIATIONS
k = knit;
k2tog = knit two together (1 stitch decreased);
m = marker;
p = purl;
p2tog = purl two together (1 stitch decreased);
pm = place marker;
psso = pass the slipped stitch over the last worked stitch (1 stitch decreased);
sl m = slip marker;
sl 1 = slip the stitch as if to purl, holding the yarn at the back of the work;
ssk = slip the next 2 stitches knitwise and knit together through the back loops (1 stitch decreased);
sts = stitch(es);
yo = yarn over (wrap the yarn over the top of the needle from front to back) (1 stitch increased).
BRICKWORK PATTERN
Round 1 [CC]: * K 5, k wrapping yarn around the needle twice, repeat from * to end of round.
Round 2 [MC]: * K 5, sl 1 dropping extra loop from the needle, repeat from * to end of round.
Rounds 3 – 5 [MC]: * P 5, sl 1, repeat from * to end of round.
Round 6 [CC]: K 2, * k wrapping yarn around the needle twice, k 5, repeat from * to 4 sts from end of round, k wrapping yarn around the needle twice, k 3.
Round 7 [MC]: K 2, * sl 1 dropping extra loop from the needle, k 5, repeat from * to 4 sts from end of round, sl 1 dropping extra loop from the needle, k 3.
Rounds 8 – 10 [MC]: P 2, * sl 1, p 5, repeat from * to 4 sts from end of round, sl 1, p 3.
(NOTE: when measuring the length of work in this pattern, remember to stretch it lengthwise to replicate the gauge after blocking, or calculate the required number of rows and work to that figure – otherwise you might end up with a very long hat!)
DIRECTIONS
With CC and using Needle B, cast on 102 sts using a medium-stretchy method, e.g. long-tail, thumb.
Join to work in the round, taking care not to twist. Pm for start of round.
Ribbing Round: * K 2, p 1, repeat from * to end.
Repeat Ribbing Round until work measures 2” (5cm).
Change to Needle A.
Work Brickwork Pattern until work measures 8” (20cm), ending with Round 8.
Work Round 1 once more.
Decrease round [MC]: * K2tog, k 1, ssk, sl 1 dropping extra loop from the needle, repeat from * to end of round. (34 sts decreased = 68 sts on the needles)
Next 3 rounds [MC]: * P 3, sl 1, repeat from * to end of round.
Setup round [CC]: K 1, * k wrapping yarn around the needle twice, k 3, repeat from * to 3 sts from end of round, k wrapping yarn around the needle twice, k 2.
Decrease round [MC]: Sl 1 (this st will be worked as the last st of the round, * sl 1 dropping extra loop from the needle, sl 1, k2tog, psso, repeat from * to 4 sts from end of round, sl 1 dropping extra loop from the needle, sl 1, k2tog (using the rst stitch of previous round), psso. (34 sts decreased = 34 sts on the needles)
Next 3 rounds [MC]: * Sl 1, p1, repeat from * to end of round. Setup round [CC]: K all sts.
Decrease round [MC]: * K2tog, repeat from * to end of round. (17 sts decreased = 17 sts on the needles)
Break CC. Remove m at start of round.
Using MC, p2tog until 5 sts remain.
Break MC. Draw tail through remaining 5 sts and pull tight.
FINISHING
Weave in ends.
Block gently to the dimensions given in Sizing, ensuring that the hat is stretched vertically in order to display the CC rows in between the “bricks”.