EMILY'S HAT

Instructions

• Print this page.

• Fill in the blanks: measure and calculate!
  1. LENGTH OF 20 STITCHES: __________.
     • Measure 20 stitches (4 sets of 3 x 2 rib) on your swatch.
  2. LENGTH AROUND HEAD: __________.
     • Measure the intended wearer's head along the 'brimline.'
  3. NUMBER OF 20 STITCH REPEATS:__________.
     • Divide the length around head by the length of 20 stitches.
  4. NUMBER OF STITCHES TO CAST ON: __________.
     • Multiply ANSWER #3 by 20.

• Start knitting.
  1. Cast on the number of stitches in ANSWER #4 above.
     • Start the top, using the same yarn and needles you used for the swatch,
     • Alternatively, you can start with a couple stitches and increase until you have the correct number of stitches on your needles.
  2. Knit the crown with a single-layer fabric, making it as long as you wish.
     • Judy suggests using a 3 x 2 rib in single-layer for the crown. Great idea!
     • If you don't know how long it should be, keep knitting until it's the length of your hand.
     • If you run out of yarn, join another color and call the stripe a design feature.
  3. Start the 2-color double-knitted ribbing.
     • See How To page.
     • Remember, the number of stitches DOUBLES by the end of Ribbing Row 1.
  4. Knit the ribbing for as long as you wish.
     • I've experimented with using many different colors, changing the pairs of colors every 4 or 8 rows and the result is fantastic.
     • Once you've learned the technique, PLAY!
     • If you are chicken, only try different colors on the last 4 or 8 rows.
  5. Cast off.
     • Judy'll K2tog; I'll graft; and you'll do whatever feels right to your fingers.
  6. Sew up the side seam.
     • If you intend to 'turn up' the brim, remember to put the raw edges on the outside at the brim-end of the seam, switching to the inside further up (so the ugly bit wont show when you turn fold up the brim.)
  7. Sew up the top.
     • If you cast on all the stitches for the first row, you can sew that row 'straight across,' sew the corners together and add a pom-pom.
     • Judy says anybody who can knit the swatch can figure out how to knit a hat without paying attention to my instructions. (Paraphrasing all mine.) She's right.
  8. When you're finished, let me know!