Wednesday, September 16, 2015

Floral Mesh Beanie

Floral Mesh Beanie

I've been posting a lot of user-suggested patterns recently, and the Floral Mesh Beanie is no exception. After completing the Floral Mesh Scarf and Bonnet, I've had requests for a simpler hat as well. And while this stitch pattern doesn't lend itself quite as seamlessly to the round as I would like, that's just because I'm a perfectionist. In practice, you'd never find the seam, although you will have to do a bit stitch-slipping to keep the thing lined up correctly.

Yarn: Plymouth Yarn DK Merino Superwash (100% Superwash Fine Merino Wool; 130 yards [119 meters]/50 grams); #1122 Wisteria - one to two skeins (I got by with one)

The Floral Mesh pattern.
I still love it, guys.
Needles: One 16" circular needle in size US 5, one 16" circular needle in size US 6, one set of double pointed needles (dpns), also in size US 6

Notions: Tapestry needle, stitch marker

Gauge: 22 stitches = 4 inches in stockinette on size 6 needle

So let's make a hat! Since the lace pattern on this hat has a larger gauge than your ribbing, it's one of the few instances where you'll be casting on more stitches, and then decreasing before you hit the mesh. With that in mind, and using your size 5 16" needle, then, cast on 112 stitches loosely, place marker, and join in round. Then we'll work a ribbing row as follows:

Ribbing Row: * k1, p1, k2, p1, k1, p1; rep from *

Knit this ribbing row until piece measures roughly 1.5". Transfer work to your size 6" circular needle, and we'll knit two transition rows, as follows:

Transition Row 1: * k1, p1, k2tog, p1, k1, p1 * (96 stitches)

Transition Row 2: knit

Then we'll begin the main stitch pattern, which is Floral Mesh from page 218 of Barbara G. Walker's A Fourth Treasury of Knitting Patterns, except adapted for the round. And it goes like so:

Row 1: * ssk, k1, k2tog, yo, k3, yo * 

Rows 2, 4, 6, & 8: knit

Row 3: * yo, k3, yo, k2tog, yo, slip 2 together knitwise-k1-pass 2 slipped stitches over (sl2-k1-p2sso) *

Row 5: * k2tog, yo, k1, yo, ssk, yo, sl2-k1-p2sso, yo *

Row 7: remove marker, slip 1 stitch knitwise, and replace marker. Then, * yo, k3, yo, ssk, k1, k2tog *

Row 9: * yo, k2tog, yo, sl2-k1-p2sso, yo, k3 * 

Row 10: knit until you have 1 stitch left in round, slip stitch knitwise, remove marker, slip stitch back to left-hand needle, and replace marker

Row 11: * ssk, yo, sl2-k1-p2sso, yo, k2tog, yo, k1, yo *

Row 12: knit

Knit rows 1-12 three times and then knit rows 1 & 2 once more. Then, we'll begin our decreases, which go as follows:

Decrease Row 1: remove marker, slip 1 stitch knitwise, and replace marker. Then, * k2, yo, k2tog, yo, sl2-k1-p2sso, yo, k2, ssk, k3, k2tog * (84 stitches)

Decrease Row 2: knit

Decrease Row 3: * k1, yo, ssk, yo, sl2-k1-p2sso, yo, k2tog, yo, k1, ssk, k1, k2tog * (72 stitches)

Decrease Row 4: knit

You'll probably want to switch to your dpns about now...

Decrease Row 5: * k2, yo, ssk, k1, k2tog, yo, k2, sl2-k1-p2sso * (60 stitches)

Decrease Row 6: knit

Decrease Row 7: * k1, ssk, k3, k2tog, k2 * (48 stitches)

Decrease Row 8: knit

Decrease Row 9: * k1, ssk, k1, k2tog, k2 * (36 stitches)

Decrease Row 10: knit

Decrease Row 11: * k1, sl2-k1-p2sso, k2 * (24 stitches)

Decrease Row 12: knit

Decrease Row 13: * sl2-k1-p2sso, k1 * (12 stitches)

Decrease Row 14: * k2tog * (6 stitches) 

Clip yarn tail and thread through final 6 stitches. Pull tight, thread to inside of hat, and knot. Tuck in ends.





13 comments:

  1. Hello! Just found your site and I am in love! Thank you for sharing your patterns. I would love to make this hat for my almost-2y.o. daughter. Would you have a pattern for this in a smaller size?

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    Replies
    1. Hi there!

      I'm glad to hear you like my site! :) As far as this hat is concerned, it's unfortunately constructed with stitch math that doesn't *quite* add up for other sizes. Here are your options: 1. I can write a modified pattern for you in which you have to fudge your transition from ribbing to pattern a little bit. It will work, but not be quite "perfect." 2. You could basically just follow the pattern as written, but gauge it down a needle size. This should work, although you may want to test your gauge.

      Furthermore, the bonnet with the same stitch pattern is another option, since it's already sized for little guys! http://www.ballstothewallsknits.com/2015/06/floral-mesh-bonnet.html

      Just let me know what you'd like to do and if you need my help. :)

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  2. Hi Gretchen! After row two of the Floral Mesh pattern should I still have 96 stitches? I have 98!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Uh oh! No, you should still have 96. I hate to say this, but you'll probably have to rip back. :( Also, if you continue to have trouble with the stitch count I suggest placing a stitch marker after every pattern repeat - that way, if you add stitches again, they'll be much easier to find and fix without frogging. :)

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    2. Okay! Thank you so much Gretchen!

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  3. I am making this as a chemo hat for my BFF's momma. I'm using soft light blue baby yarn. Thank you so much for the pattern -- I will probably make several in different colors so she has a variety from which to choose.

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    Replies
    1. Yay! Sounds like you're doing a very kind thing. :) Let me know if you have any questions!

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  4. Hi! I'm confused by the instructions on row 7. Maybe that's because I have markers at every repeat. Will this correct itself eventually & I should just ignore the intervening stitch markers? Or should I change them at each repeat?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi! Yeah, this pattern doesn't work *perfectly* in the round which is why I had to do some funky stitch marker things. I suggest just moving all of your markers one stitch to the left to accommodate for the change! :)

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  5. Thanks! 😊I think it's working!

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    Replies
    1. Yay! Let me know if you have any other questions!!!

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  6. Please can you share this using straight needles. Rachna

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    Replies
    1. Hi there!

      Unfortunately this pattern isn't suited for adaptation as written because of row 7 - with each repeat of the pattern, I changed the starting point in a way that makes adaptation difficult. If you'd like, I can send you the stitch pattern, and you're of course welcome to design your own hat pattern on straight needles using it! Please email me at ballstothewalls@gmail.com if that's your preference.

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