Wednesday, July 30, 2014

Sunny Stripes Hat

Sunny Stripes Hat
... plus a very wiggly child...

Sometimes, I feel as if I'm trapped in an endless hat knitting cycle with my children; as soon as I finish a hat for one of them, the other one immediately gets jealous and demands yet another hat. Which is how the Sunny Stripes Hat came to be, in all of its stripe-y glory. And it's not just the stripes that make it fun; it's also the slip stitch accentuated finish, which make it look almost like the celestial body it's named for. Plus, it comes in all sizes, so you can knit one for every member of your family (pets excluded)!

Sizes: Small (Medium; Large) (Small is 7.5" from crown to bottom, and will fit up to a 20" circumference head - think pre-schooler to young elementary, unless the kid's got a huge noggin like my children; Medium is 8.5" from crown to bottom, and will fit up to a 22" circumference head - think older kid to teen to smaller-headed adult (this would be my size); and Large is 9.5" from crown to bottom, and will fit up to a 24" circumference head - perfect for my husband)
The finishing. Slipped stitches
give it an extra sunny feel.

Yarn: Cascade Yarns Cascade 220 (100% Peruvian Highland Wool; 220 yards [200 meters]/100 grams); #8906 Blue Topaz - one skein (color A), Cascade Yarns Cascade 220 Heathers (100% Peruvian Highland Wool; 220 yards [200 meters]/100 grams); #2439 Gelato - one skein (color B)

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

Before we begin, a quick note about sizing; as you may have noticed, I recommend medium for anyone between, like, 5 and adult. This is simply because most head growth occurs in the first couple of years, and, for instance, my five-year-old's head is only 1" smaller than mine in circumference and 1/2" smaller than mine crown-to-base-of-ear. Which means, yes, we would both wear the medium. Of course, not everyone's children have such monstrous heads, and the small size could fit a much older child. Finally, if you're knitting this hat as a gift and have no idea about sizing, I recommend large for most men, medium for most women and teens, and small for most everyone between 2 and 8 or so. Go up a size if they seem large-headed, or add 1/2" to 1" to the length. And now that we're all thoroughly confused, let's get started!

Using your color A yarn and your size 5 circular needle, cast on 90 (100; 110) stitches, place marker, and join in round. Knit 1.5" in a k1, p1 ribbing. Then, switch to your size 7 circular needle and we'll begin our striped pattern, which is pretty basic, but goes as follows:

Row 1: using color B, knit

Row 2: using color A, knit

Knit rows 1 & 2 until piece measures 5" (6"; 7") in length, and you've just completed row 2 of your pattern. Now, it's time to begin the decreases, which will proceed as I've written below. Remember to switch to your dpns when you get down below about 80 stitches on your needle. Oh, and, as you work the decreases, the half of each of your k2togs that sits next to the slipped stitches may get swallowed into the pattern. No worries; after you're finished, simply fish those halves out with the blunt end of your tapestry needle and they'll look better. So let's do this!

Decrease Row 1: using color B, * slip 1, k7, k2tog; rep from * (all sizes)

Decrease Row 2: using color A, knit (all sizes)

Decrease Row 3: using color B, * slip 1, k6, k2tog * (all sizes)

Decrease Row 4: using color A, knit (all sizes)

Decrease Row 5: using color B, * slip 1, k5, k2tog * (all sizes)

Decrease Row 6: using color A, knit (all sizes)

Decrease Row 7: using color B, * slip 1, k4, k2tog * (all sizes)

Decrease Row 8: using color A, knit (all sizes)

Decrease Row 9: using color B, * slip 1, k3, k2tog * (all sizes)

Decrease Row 10: using color A, knit (all sizes)

Decrease Row 11: using color B, * slip 1, k2, k2tog * (all sizes)

Go ahead and clip your color B tail; you're done with it.

Decrease Row 12: using color A, knit (all sizes)

Decrease Row 13: using color A, * k2, k2tog * (all sizes)

Decrease Row 14: using color A, * k1, k2tog * (all sizes)

Decrease Row 15: using color A, * k2tog * (all sizes)

Decrease Row 16: using color A, k1, * k2tog * (for sizes small and large)

Decrease Row 16: using color A, * k2tog * (for size medium)

Clip tail and thread through remaining 5 (6; 7) stitches. Pull tight, thread to inside of hat, and knot. Tuck in ends.





27 comments:

  1. Replies
    1. You're welcome! I'm glad you like it :)

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    2. I love how the blue and yellow stripes merge to create a third green colour in certain shots and at certain angles. Very cheerful hat thank you.

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    3. Thank you! I'm a sucker for bright colors, what can I say? :)

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  2. Are your needles in the US sizing? What mm are they? I am using acrylic, '8 ply' (which would normally use 4mm needles but some yarns are think enough for 4.5mm needles).

    I'm guessing this is a snug-fitting beanie, like the 'Greenies' wear?

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    1. Hi Arlette!

      Yes, the needle sizes are in US sizes (and I updated the pattern to show it - thanks for letting me know!). Also, as designed with the sizing suggestions and all, this beanie is meant to fit snugly, with slight negative ease around the head. Please let me know if you have any more questions! :)

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  3. Hi, thank you for this beautiful pattern. Would it work with non circular needles and then sewn the sides back together? Veronica

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    1. Hi Veronica!

      The only thing that would be difficult about this pattern back-and-forth is the stripes; since they are only one row thick, you would either have to work with four balls of yarn (two of each color, to start at each of the sides), or move to a two-row stripe pattern. Let me know if you need any help converting the pattern, and, if so, whether you'd prefer to keep the one-row stripes or move to the more back-and-forth friendly two-row stripes! :)

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  4. Help! It's a nice pattern - but what cast-on do you use? No-one ever suggests a cast-on in hat patterns. Thanks a million.

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    1. Hi there!

      You're right - it's rare to find a cast-on suggestion. I, however, am a die-hard fan of the long-tail cast on... in fact, I can't think of a time within the past five years I haven't used it! Here's a link to the tutorial, in case you're unfamiliar: http://www.wikihow.com/Do-the-Long-Tail-Cast-On

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  5. Hello! I'm curious: how do you keep the stripes lined up? I see items online about jogless stripes in round knitting but the methods they describe have 2 rows of stripes.
    Thanks.

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    1. Hi there!

      You're right, you need two rows to be jogless, so this hat does have a slight back seam (you can see it in the close up picture and the top one of the bottom ones, if that makes any sense). I've seen some people make this hat with two row stripes on Ravelry, which you can totally do too; I just loved the look of the single row striping, so I sacrificed the back seam! :)

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  6. I'm going to make this hat for my niece and the Kids Banana Beanie for the baby who will be here in November.

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    1. I think those are excellent choices! Let me know if you have any questions about either! :)

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  7. Thank you for this lovely pattern, I'm knitting on the round for the first time and loving it. I'm using grey and black stripes for my husband and attatching a knitted beard with buttons for a bit of Christmas fun.

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    1. Yay! I'm always happy to hear when people are enjoying knitting in the round - it's totally worth taking the plunge! Anyway, your project sounds perfect. :) Let me know if you have any questions!

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  8. Thank you for this lovely pattern I made it for my grandchild it looks very buetifull

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  9. Hi. I’m in love with this hat, the colors and the stripes! I’m also digging the decrease. Question - is the slip one done purlwise or knitwise? Thanks!!

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  10. Why do you switch to double pointed needles when you get to 80 stitches? Can't you just do the whole cap on the circular needle?

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    1. The hole at the top gets too small to continue to work on a circular needle, unless you use two, or switch to a longer one and use the Magic Loop technique. :)

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  11. Mine actually are longer. What is the magic loop technique? Also, my circular needles are actually size 4 and 6. Can I use these? Would I have to cast on more stitches?

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    1. Here's a link to more information on the Magic Loop: https://www.google.com/amp/s/blog.tincanknits.com/2013/10/03/magic-loop/amp/

      You can also Google it and find lots of videos and other instructions! As far as your needle size - you'd probably be fine with what you have (in my experience, knit hats are more likely to grow than shrink), but you could also cast on the number of stitches for one size larger hat, but follow the length instructions for the correct size.

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  12. Loved this pattern. I’m using circular needles. I’m stuck at the first decreasing row. Do I slip the first stitch in color A and then k7 in color B? Beginners doubts😀😀

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    1. Yes, the first stitch (and all the slipped stitches) will be in color A. :) Let me know if you have any other questions!!!

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