Monday, March 11, 2013

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.

10 comments:

  1. I'm having problems keeping the first row from twisting on my circular needles. I tried casting on to straight needles and knitting the first row onto the circular needles. It still twisted. Any suggestions?

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    Replies
    1. Hello there!

      I found two YouTube videos that basically sum up any advice I would give you - the first is how to check for twists and prevent them: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LuMHgB_SoUQ

      The second is for fixing one, if it happens: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=alGQDqCCNRY

      I hope this helps! Good luck :)

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  2. Thank you! Actually I used a different cast on method; continental/long tail and it didn't twist nearly as much.

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  3. So this phrase: "Repeat Rows 1 - 12 twice, and then it's time to begin the decreases!" means that I have to start at row one and knit the first two rows again before i start row three with the pattern on it?
    also it means that I have to knit "rows 1-12" a total of three times, correct?

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    Replies
    1. Ack! This is actually one of the first patterns I posted, before I figured out my phrasing! What I ACTUALLY mean (and I corrected it in the pattern above) is to knit rows 1 - 12 twice through, not three times. And you work rows 1 & 2 both times as well - although they're just knitting, they are part of the pattern. :)

      Anyway, I apologize for the inconvenience and please let me know if you have any other questions!

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  4. Hi, Gretchen could you share this on straight needles please!!!!

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    Replies
    1. I think this will work... you may end up with the wrong number of stitches to complete the final row. If so, just p1 at the end!

      Cast on 98 stitches. Work ribbing as follows:

      Row 1 (right side): k1, * k1, p1; rep from * until you have one stitch left, end k1

      Row 2: p1, * k1, p1; rep from * until you have one stitch left, p1

      Knit rows 1 & 2 until piece measures roughly 1.5" and you’ve just finished a wrong side row.

      Row 1 (right side): knit

      Row 2: purl

      Row 3: k1, * 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 * until you have one stitch left in row, k1

      Row 4: p1, * k2, p2; rep from * until you have 1 stitch left, k1

      Rows 5 & 6: Repeat rows 3 & 4

      Row 7: knit

      Row 8: purl

      Row 9: k1, * tw 2, p2; rep from * until you have 1 stitch left, k1

      Row 10: p1, * p2, k2; rep from * until you have 1 stitch left, p1

      Rows 11 & 12: Repeat rows 9 & 10

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

      Decrease Row 1 (right side): k1, * p2, tw 2, p2, tw 2, p2tog, tw 2; rep from * until you have 1 stitch left, k1

      Row 2: p1, * p1, k1, p2, k3, p2, k2; rep from until you have 1 stitch left, p1

      Row 3: k1, * p2, tw 2, p2tog, tw 2, p1, tw 2; rep from * until you have 1 stitch left, k1

      Row 4: p1, * p1, k1, p2, k2, p2; rep from * until you have 1 stitch left, p1

      Row 5: k1, * p2tog, tw 2, p1, tw 2, p1, tw 2; rep from * until you have 1 stitch left, k1

      Row 6: p1, * p2, k1; rep from * until you have 1 stitch left, p1

      Row 7: k1, * p1, tw 2, p1, tw 2, p1, k2tog; rep from * until you have 1 stitch left, k1

      Row 8: p1, * p1, k1, p2, k1, p2, k1; rep from * until you have 1 stitch left, p1

      Row 9: k1, * p1, tw 2, p1, k2tog, p1, k1; rep from * until you have 1 stitch left, k1

      Row 10: p1, * p1, k1, p1, k1, p2, k1; rep from* until you have 1 stitch left in row, p1

      Row 11: k1, * p1, k2tog, p1, k1, p1, k1; rep from * until you have 1 stitch left, k1

      Row 12: p1, * p1, k1, p1, k1, p2tog; rep from * until you have 1 stitch left, p1

      Row 13: * k2tog, p1, tw 2; rep from * until you have 2 stitches left, k2

      Row 14: p2, * p2, p2tog *

      Row 15: * k2tog, k1; rep from * until you have 2 stitches left, k2

      Row 16: * p2tog *

      Clip yarn tail, thread through remaining stitches, pull tight, and knot. Thread to inside of hat and tuck in end. Seam from bottom to top; tuck in ends.

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    2. Hi Gretchen how many stitches would you need if I wanted to make it with 8 ply yarn using 4.5mm knitting needles, for guage it says 22 stitches on 4mm needles and 30 rows in socking stitch will make 10 cm square piece.

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    3. If you're knitting flat, I would cast on 122. I would also use a smaller needle for the ribbing (not sure I did on this hat, it's one of my first patterns), and you may want to throw in another half pattern repeat by beginning on row 7 instead of row 1 after the ribbing, working row 7 - 12, and then rows 1 - 12 twice through. :)

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