Wednesday, May 20, 2015

Butterfly Eyelet Hat

Butterfly Eyelet Hat

As a woman who has had short hair the majority of her life, I rarely find myself needing a very slouchy hat (and thus often design beanies). But sometimes I remember that the rest of you may very well have crazy, messy, big hair that needs a big ol' hat to go on top of it. And that's why I designed the Butterfly Eyelet Hat, which has enough stretch and length to fit over a long, luscious 'do (or just to accent a short one). Anyway, if there's anyone out there who likes the pattern but would prefer a snugger fit to their hat, just hit me up in the comments and we'll see what we can do!

Yarn: Cascade 220 Superwash (100% Superwash Wool; 220 yards [200 meters]/100 grams); #1940 Peach – one skein (color A) and #910A Winter White - one skein (color B)

The pattern. Cute little eyelets, eh?
Needles: One 16" circular needle in size US 5, one 16" circular needle in size US 7, one set of double-pointed needles (dpns), also in size US 7

Notions: Tapestry needle, stitch marker

Gauge: 20 stitches = 4 inches in stockinette on size 7 needles

So let's make a hat! First, then, using your size 5 needle and your color A yarn, cast on 112 stitches, place marker, and join in round. Then we'll knit the following ribbing row to get started:

Ribbing Row: using color A, * k2, p2; rep from *

Knit this ribbing row until ribbing measures roughly 1.5". Transfer work to your size US 7 circular needle and, continuing to use color A, knit two rows around. Now we'll begin the main pattern, which is Butterfly Eyelet from page 159 of Barbara G. Walker's Charted Knitting Designs: A Third Treasury of Knitting Patterns and goes as follows:

Row 1: using color A, * k2, yo, ssk, k2tog, yo, k10 *

Rows 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, & 20: using color A, knit, working (p1, k1) in each double yo (which only occur in rows 3, 7, 13, & 17; for all other rows, you needn't worry about this part of the instruction)

Row 3: using color A, * k2tog, yo, k2tog, (yo) twice, ssk, yo, ssk, k8 *

Row 5: using color A, * (yo, ssk) twice, (k2tog, yo) twice, k8 *

Row 7: using color A, * k2tog, yo, k2tog, (yo) twice, ssk, yo, ssk, k8 *

Row 9: using color A, * k2, yo, ssk, k2tog, yo, k10 *

Row 11: using color A, * k10, yo, ssk, k2tog, yo, k2 *

Row 13: using color A, * k8, k2tog, yo, k2tog, (yo) twice, ssk, yo, ssk *

Row 15: using color A, * k8, (yo, ssk) twice, (k2tog, yo) twice *

Row 17: using color A, * k8, k2tog, yo, k2tog, (yo) twice, ssk, yo, ssk *

Row 19: using color A, * k10, yo, ssk, k2tog, yo, k2 *

Rows 21 - 40: using color B, repeat rows 1 - 20. 

Knit rows 1 - 40. And once that's done, we'll begin our decreases, which go as follows:

Decrease Row 1: using color A, knit

Decrease Row 2: using color A, * k25, k3tog * (104 stitches)

Decrease Row 3: using color A, knit

Decrease Row 4: using color A, * k23, k3tog * (96 stitches)

Decrease Row 5: using color A, * k21, k3tog * (88 stitches)

Decrease Row 6: using color A, * k19, k3tog* (80 stitches)

You may want to switch to your dpns about now...

Decrease Row 7: using color A, * k17, k3tog* (72 stitches)

Decrease Row 8: using color A, * k15, k3tog * (64 stitches)

Decrease Row 9: using color A, * k13, k3tog * (56 stitches)

Decrease Row 10: using color A, * k11, k3tog * (48 stitches)

Decrease Row 11: using color A, * k9, k3tog * (40 stitches)

Decrease Row 12: using color A, * k7, k3tog * (32 stitches)

Decrease Row 13: using color A, * k5, k3tog * (24 stitches)

Decrease Row 14: using color A, * k3, k3tog * (16 stitches)

Decrease Row 15: using color A, * k1, k3tog * (8 stitches)

Clip yarn tail, thread through final 8 stitches, and pull tight. Thread to inside of hat and knot. Tuck in ends and, if desired, block.






39 comments:

  1. hello gretchen...a very delightful blog...thank you for your generosity in sharing your patterns...this hat pattern is very interesting and that it uses worsted yarn is good for me, as i have quite a stash....thanks and big hugs to you and your family...sally

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    1. Hi Sally!

      Glad to hear you like the pattern - I thought the eyelet design was a fun touch. :) And, of course, I'm delighted that you like my site in general. I aim to please!!!

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    2. Love your patterns. I've learned some new stuff just so I could knit them. I would like to make it more snug. How would I go about decreasing while keeping the pattern intact (the beautiful decreases are the best part) :)

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    3. Hi Gail!

      Glad to hear you like my patterns - also that you've learned new stuff knitting them (since I have too!). Anyway, I think the easiest way to make this more snug would be to cast on 104 stitches rather than 120 and then move to a size US 6 needle for the ribbing. Also, I would only work the ribbing for 1" rather than 1.5". Finally, you can also move straight to decrease row 4 of the decrease. All of those things combined should turn it into more of a beanie than a slouchy hat. And please, let me know if you have any other questions! :)

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  2. Can you clarify row 2,4,6,8 etc for me? It reads knit working p1,k1 into each double yo. Does that mean knit the knits, purl the purls unless it is one of the rows with a double yo? Would you purl in the front and then knit into the back of each double yo? I appreciate your help. You seem patient and really go the extra mile to answer questions about your patterns.

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    1. Hi Gail!

      Of course I am happy to help! In these rows, you knit all stitches except for the double yarn overs that occur in rows 3, 7, 13, & 17 (since you just can't knit those twice). So yes, with those stitches, you simply purl the first yarn over and then knit the second. Besides the ribbing, those are the only purls in the whole pattern! :) Let me know if you need any more help, or if that doesn't clear things up for you.

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    2. Thanks. That helps me a lot. You have been most helpful and I look forward to knitting many more of your patterns (as do the recipients of finished items).

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    3. Good to hear! :) And again, let me know if you have any other questions.

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  3. Gretchen, You are so talented and create the most beautiful patterns. The patternsare the best of all the sites I visit. Thank you for giving this 74 year old so much to enjoy in her knitting.

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    1. What a lovely thing to say! Thank you so much. :) And I am delighted to hear that you enjoy my stuff - I love making it, so it works out well for both of us.

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  4. On row one of this hat, I am 8 stitches short. I cast on 120 stitches. Should I have cast on 128 stitches instead for the pattern to work?

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    1. Oh my goodness! I just looked at this again and the cast-on number should have been 112. I have no idea what I was thinking/how that happened/etc. I apologize. I will fix the pattern. Unfortunately, since my number was large and not small, you probably won't be able to salvage the edging, since it will probably be too big. Again, I apologize.

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    2. Gah! It looks like I messed up the ribbing row anyway too (I forgot a purl stitch). Oi. Again, I apologize.

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    3. Thank you so much for your quick reply. I decreased 8 stitches on the first pattern row---down to 112 stitches. I made a note of this on my pattern.Some people don't like a right fitting hat, so I will continue knitting.
      I make many mistakes all the time. Again thank you.

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    4. I'm glad you're so understanding! :) I definitely strive to double- and triple-check things, but once in a while something falls through the cracks. And I feel terrible every time! Other than that - please let me know if you have any other questions.

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  5. I'm about to start this one for my Aunt Gina in orange soon. I'm just now in the decrease rows for the Lace Butterfly hat for my mom.

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    1. Yay! I'm so glad to hear it. :) Let me know if you have any questions!

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    2. I am still having trouble with row one even with 112 stitches. Does the ssk mean slip, slip, knit? if so, this is a 17 stitch repeat, leaving 10 stitches at the end? What am I doing wrong?

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    3. Hi Becky!

      Yes, ssk stands for slip slip knit, which in turn is a left-leaning decrease that takes 2 stitches to 1. You can find more info here: http://knitting.about.com/od/knittingglossary/g/slip-slip-knit.htm. Since this stitch effectively cancels out the yo (meaning that the yo does not actually add a stitch since the ssk reduces by a stitch), and the other yo is canceled out by the k2tog, this maintains a 16-stitch pattern. Let me know if you have any more questions! :)

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  6. lindakscott@ymail.comNovember 28, 2015 at 11:15 PM

    I love your patterns, I have several of them. I'm so glad you are so talented.

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    1. I'm so glad you like my patterns! :) And I'm also glad I get the opportunity to knit (virtually) with people like you!!!

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  7. I haven't knitted many hats, but I think I may try this one. I just need to buy the proper size circulars first. I inherited all the needles I do have when my mom passed and she didn't have many circulars. I have lots of straight and dpns though!

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    1. Let me know if you have any questions! And it's funny - I have almost all circulars & dpns since I got rid of my straights when I moved. I sold them at my yard sale to a woman who makes knitting needle jewelry, it was pretty cool stuff!!! :)

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  8. Hi: I'm doing the Butterfly Eyelet Hat. I have run into a problem. Row 1 states: using color A, * k2, yo, ssk, k2tog, yo, k10 * If I am correct, I end up with 16 stitches. The next row states: knit, working (p1, k1) in each double yo. I don't see a "double yo". If I p1,k1 in each yo, I don't end up with the right number of stitches (18 stitches), as Row 3 states: k2tog, yo, k2tog, (yo) twice, ssk, yo, ssk, k8 which means I would end up with 16 stitches (same number as Row 1, and 2 less than Row 2). Please tell me what I am doing wrong.

    Suzanne

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    1. Hi Suzanne!

      You're right, there aren't any double yo's in the first row, so you can ignore that instruction. Row 2 is written as a catch-all, to cover all even rows. Therefore, when you get to row 8, you will need this instruction to work the double yo in row 7. I'll clarify the pattern so it's more obvious! :)

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    2. I'm having a problem with row 3 as well. The directions state: "k2tog, yo, k2tog, (yo) twice, ssk, yo, ssk, k8". This makes 18 stitches, and the pattern works over 16 stitches. Please clarify.
      Thanks

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    3. Marjory February 3,2016 at 6:45 PM
      I cast on 104 sts for the snug hat. However I don't know how to convert row1 to work with 104 sts.

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    4. Hi Suzanne!

      Row 3 has 2 k2togs (which totals 2 stitches), 2 ssks (which also totals 2 stitches), 4 yos (4 more stitches) and 8 knits (8 more stitches). Altogether that's 16. Let me know which one of these stitches is giving you trouble, and I'll try to help you more. :)

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    5. And for the second question here - this hat has a 16-stitch pattern, and 104 is only divisible by 2, 13, 26, and 52. So if you really want to make this hat work with 104 stitches, you're probably just going to have to add stockinette strips between the eyelet motifs. You'll also end up with 4 eyelets around, rather than the 7 shown. Let me know if you need help with this! :)

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    6. Regarding Row 3: The directions read: "k2tog, yo, k2tog, (yo) twice, ssk, yo, ssk, k8". The confusing part is the "(yo) twice" part.Do we "double yo? if not, what are we doing twice?

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    7. Ah ha! Now that I know what your problem is it's easier to help. :) (yo) twice just means you yarn over twice - so you wrap your yarn twice, for two added stitches. That's how you get four yarn overs in total (with the other two singles), and it adds up. Again, let me know if you have any other questions!!!

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  9. Thanks Gretchen. Your answered helped. I made the pattern based on 13 stitches instead of 16. Therefor in rows 1,9,11 & 19, I knitted 7 stitches instead of 10. For rows 3,5,7,13,15 & 17, I knitted 5 stitches, instead of 8. This count gave me 7 eyelet motifs. Thanks, Marjory


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  10. I miss counted the motifs. There are 8 motifs made with the adapted design of 104 stitches.

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    1. Perfect! It sounds like you have it all worked out. Let me know if you have any other questions! :)

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  11. To: Gretchen Tracy Hi! Love this hat. =) Would like to make it for my 12 yr old granddaughter. She kinda small for her age so I'm wondering if the hat would be too big around for her and if it needs to be smaller how would the pattern change? I can knit ok but changing a pattern to fit is not my forte'. Am I asking too much? If so, then I'll find another hat for her. =) Thanks for the free pattern!

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    1. Hi Elizabeth!

      No worries, I'm always happy to help. I think the best thing for you to do would be to simply cast on 96 stitches instead of the 112 given. Then you can follow the pattern as written until you get to the decrease, where you'll simply begin on Decrease Row 5 instead of Decrease Row 1. You can knit one extra row after decrease row 5, if you'd like, or just work it as given - either way will work out! And let me know if you have any more questions. Like I said, I'm happy to help! :)

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    2. Thanks Gretchen. I will try that. =)

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  12. I've kind of fell in love with slouchy beanies. As a person living with MS there are days you just don't have the strength and energy to do much with your hair. These hats are a cute way to fake it. I've only made one so far as I just started knitting a few weeks ago but I'm loving it so far! Glad I stumbled upon your blog. Most of the hats I found that I liked came from your blog. You make it easy to understand and follow. Thank you.

    Shannon|MSnubutterflies

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    1. Hi Shannon!

      I'm glad to hear that you're enjoying my website, and that you've taken up knitting! It's the best hobby, of course. ;) Anyway, thanks for saying hi, and let me know if you ever have any questions!!!

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