Wednesday, October 28, 2015

Austrian Block Hat

Austrian Block Hat
Size Adult Small

I wish I had a super-good story for this hat, but I don't. Basically, I had the yarn (left over from the Little Red Hooded Cowl), I saw the stitch pattern, and the hat-baby I imagined would result from the combination of the two seemed neat. And, whaddya know, it IS neat, and makes a quick, unisex knit perfect for your last-minute holiday gifting needs (not that we're there yet!).

Sizes: Adult Small (Adult Large)

Yarn: Plymouth Yarn Encore Chunky (75% Acrylic, 22% Wool, 3% Rayon; 143 yards [131 meters]/100 grams); #999  - one skein 

A closer look at the pattern.
So blocky!
Needles: One 16" circular needle in size US 9, one 16" circular needle in size US 10, one set of double pointed needles (dpns), also in size US 10

Notions: Tapestry needle, stitch marker

Gauge: 14 stitches = 4 inches on size 10 needles 

And now it's time to make a hat! Using your size 9 needle, then, cast on 70 (80) stitches loosely, place marker, and join in round. Then we'll work a ribbing row, as follows:

Ribbing Row: * k1, p2, k2, p1, k2, p2; rep from *

Knit this ribbing row 8 times (10 times) and transfer your work to your size 10 needle. Now it's time to begin the main pattern, which is a Austrian Block Pattern from page 146 of Barbara G. Walker's A Second Treasury of Knitting Patterns. To do it, we'll need some terminology, as follows:

rt (right twist): knit two together, leaving stitches on left-hand needle; next, insert right-hand needle from the front between the two stitches just knitted together, and knit the first stitch again.  Finally, slip both stitches from left-hand needle together

lt (left twist): with right-hand needle behind left-hand needle, skip one stitch and knit the second stitch in back loop; then insert right-hand needle into the backs of both stitches and k2tog-b (knit two together through back loops, inserting right needle from the right)

And now that that's out of the way, we'll continue like so:

Row 1: * k1, p2, k5, p2 *

Row 2: * k1 through back loop (k1-tbl), p2, rt, k1, lt, p2 *

Rows 3 - 10: knit rows 1 & 2 four more times

Row 11: * k3, p2, k1, p2, k2 *

Row 12: * k1, lt, p2, k1-tbl, p2, rt *

Rows 13 - 20: knit rows 11 & 12 four more times

Knit rows 1 - 20 once, and then knit rows 1 - 13 once more (both sizes). Then we'll begin our decrease, as follows.

Decrease Row 1: * k3, p2tog, k1, p2tog, k2 * (56 stitches (64 stitches))

Decrease Row 2: * k1, lt, p1, k1-tbl, p1, rt *

You may want to transfer your work to your dpns about now...

Decrease Row 3: * k1, k2tog, p1, k1, p1, ssk * (42 stitches (48 stitches))

Decrease Row 4: slip the first two stitches of hat from your first dpn to your third; then, * p1, k1-tbl, p1, slip 2 together knitwise-k1-p2sso * (28 stitches (32 stitches))

Decrease Row 5: slip first stitch of hat from your first dpn to your third; then, * k1, p3tog * (14 stitches (16 stitches))

Decrease Row 6: * k2tog * (7 stitches (8 stitches))

Clip yarn tail, thread through remaining 7 (8) stitches, and pull tight. Thread to inside of hat and knot. Tuck in ends.






6 comments:

  1. Hi, Gretchen can you please share this pattern in straight needles. Also how many stitches for 8 ply yarn.

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  2. please can you share this for straight needles and 8 ply yarn how many stitches to caston. thanks I wish I could share my lovely gifts made thanks to you.

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    Replies
    1. Hi there! I saw your message and it's in my to-do list. If you're anxious, here's a post about doing the conversion yourself. :)

      https://knittingforprofit.com/blog/convert-a-pattern-from-in-the-round-to-flat-knitting/

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    2. Ok, here it is. Please note that the finish will be different, as it's impossible to do the same one flat :)

      Using your size 9 needle, then, cast on 72 (82) stitches loosely. Then we'll work a ribbing, as follows:

      Ribbing Row 1 (wrong side): p1, * k2, p2, k1, p2, k2, p1; rep from * until you have 1 stitch left, p1

      Ribbing Row 2 (right side): k1, * k1, p2, k2, p1, k2, p2; rep from * until you have 1 stitch left in pattern, k1

      Knit these two ribbing rows 4 times (5 times) and transfer your work to your size 10 needle. Now it's time to begin the main pattern.

      Row 1 (wrong side): p1, * k2, p5, k2, p1; rep from * until 1 left, p1

      Row 2: k1, * k1 through back loop (k1-tbl), p2, rt, k1, lt, p2; rep from * until 1 left, k1

      Rows 3 - 10: knit rows 1 & 2 four more times

      Row 11: p1, * p2, k2, p1, k2, p3; rep from * until 1 left, p1

      Row 12: k1, * k1, lt, p2, k1-tbl, p2, rt; rep from * until 1 left, k1

      Rows 13 - 20: knit rows 11 & 12 four more times

      Knit rows 1 - 20 once, and then knit rows 1 - 14 once more (both sizes). Then we'll begin our decrease, as follows.

      Decrease Row 1 ( wrong side): p1, * p2, k2tog, p1, k2tog, p3; rep from * until 1 left, p1 (58 stitches (66 stitches))

      Decrease Row 2: k1, * k1, lt, p1, k1-tbl, p1, rt; rep from * until 1 left, k1

      Decrease Row 3: p1, * p2tog-through back loops, k1, p1, k1, p2tog, p1; rep from * until 1 left, p1 (44 stitches (50 stitches))

      Decrease Row 4: k1, * k2tog, p1, k2tog, k1; rep from * until 1 left, k1 (30 stitches (34 stitches))

      Decrease Row 5: p1, * p2tog; rep from * until 1 left, p1 (16 stitches (18 stitches))

      Decrease Row 6: k1, * k2tog; rep from * until 1 left, k1 (9 stitches (10 stitches))

      Clip yarn tail, thread through remaining 9 (10) stitches, and pull tight. Thread to inside of hat and knot. Seam from bottom of hat and tuck in ends.

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    3. 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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    4. Hi! If you're knitting it flat, I would cast on 112 for the smaller size or 122 for the larger. Your decrease numbers will be slightly different but it should work out just fine. You may also want to add another pattern repeat before the decrease. :)

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