Twisted Check Hat

Twisted Check Hat

First things first: I know I show this hat on my little lady friend here, but I actually knit it for my husband.  Who looks pretty good in it.  But when I tried to get him to pose for the pictures, he refused to do anything but make weird faces and quips about being a Top Model.  So... little lady friend it is.  Besides that, it's a little difficult to tell from the pictures, but the way this yarn is variegated made cool zig-zags in the pattern.  Or in other words, it's a good, basic unisex hat.  I also suspect I could make two hats out of my one ball of yarn, but I have too many other projects to complete before I test that hypothesis ("Buddy, what's a hypothesis?" "It's an idea you can test!" - Dinosaur Train).  Where was I again?  Oh yeah, the hat.

Yarn: Cascade Yarns Pacific (40% Superwash Merino Wool, 60% Acrylic; 213 yards [195 meters]/100 grams); #500 Duo Tone - just one skein needed.

Needles: One 16" circular needle in size 8, one set double-pointed needles, also in size 8

Notions: Stitch marker, tapestry needle

Gauge: 18 stitches = 4 inches

Cast on 96 stitches, place marker, join in round

Knit in k1, p1 ribbing for 1.5"

The body of this hat is worked in Twisted Check Pattern, which you can find on page 117 of Barbara G. Walker's A Treasury of Knitting Patterns.

Rows 1 & 2: Knit

Row 3: * p2, skip 1 st and knit into the 2nd st, then knit into the skipped st, then sl both sts from needle together (Twist Two, Tw 2); rep from *

Row 4: * p2, k2 *

Rows 5 & 6: Repeat rows 3 & 4

Rows 7 & 8 : Knit

Row 9: * tw 2, p2 *

Row 10: * k2, p2 *

Rows 11 & 12: Repeat rows 9 & 10

Knit rows 1 - 12 twice, and then it's time to begin the decreases!

Decrease Row 1: * p2, tw 2, p2, tw 2, p2tog, tw 2 *

Row 2: * p2, k2, p2, k2, p1, k2 *

Switch to dpns

Row 3: * p2, tw 2, p2tog, tw 2, p1, tw 2 *

Row 4: * p2, k2, p1, k2, p1, k2 *

Row 5: * p2tog, tw 2, p1, tw 2, p1, tw 2 *

Row 6: * p1, k2 *

Row 7: * p1, tw 2, p1, tw 2, p1, k2tog *

Row 8: * p1, k2, p1, k2, p1, k1 *

Row 9: * p1, tw 2, p1, k2tog, p1, k1 *

Row 10: * p1, k2, p1, k1, p1, k1 *

Row 11: * p1, k2tog, p1, k1, p1, k1 *

Row 12: * k2tog, p1, k1, p1, k1 *

Row 13: slip first stitch to last dpn; * k2tog, p1, tw 2 *

Row 14: * k2tog, k2 *

Row 15: * k2tog, k1 *

Row 16: * k2tog *

Cut yarn, leaving a 12" tail.  Thread on tapestry needle and thread through remaining 8 stitches.  Pull tight, knot, and tuck in ends.  Finally, place on someone's head.