Holiday Break Hat

This weekend I finished what I'm calling my Holiday Break Hat. It's knit in worsted weight Malabrigo Rios (I used our exclusive Holiday 2020 color) and is super warm and cute and it knits up pretty darn fast. It's definitely a project you could knit in a weekend while watching a holiday movie or two.

I'm no pattern writer, and this has not been tech edited, so let's call this a recipe. If you know what works for your head, or want to make this larger or smaller depending on the size head of the recipient, the only thing that you need to do is increase or decrease your cast on in multiples of four so the rib on the hat works, and then you might have to decrease differently at the top. But basically it's just five rows and knit and five rows of purl after the rib, and you can add or decrease those depending if you want a smaller hat or want it slouchier- which I might add another set of 5 rows next time for a slouchier version.

Materials:

1 skein Malabrigo Rios (our exclusive Las Fiestas 2020 Christmas color is pictured), or another worsted weight yarn

16" circular needles in sizes US 6 and US 7

US 7 double point needles

Tapestry Needle

* _____ * _____ *

Using the US 6 circ, cast on 88 sts and join into a round. Rib k2p2 for approve 8 rows, or until you get the desired length of rib. If you're doing a slouchier/longer hat you might want to do another 2 or 3 rows to help the hat stay in place.

Switch to the US 7 circs.

*Knit 5 rows. Purl 5 rows.* Repeat the 10 row sequence b/t the * another 5 times (totalling 6). If you want a slouchier (less snug to the top of the head) hat, repeat another time. This is the bulk of the hat and now you'll need to decrease at the top.

Decrease section:

Row 1: *k2 k2tog*. Repeat this to the end of the row.

Row 2: Knit all stitches

Row 3: *k1, k2tog*, repeat to end. This is where the circumference is small enough that I need to switch to the double point needles, though you could do that earlier depending on gauge.

Row 4: Knit all stitches

Row 5: k2tog - all stitches to the end of the row

Row 6: Knit all stitches

Row 7: k2tog - all stitches to the end of the row (11 sts left)

Row 8: k2tog - all stitches to the last st - you'll have one left, just knit it to then have 6 stitches left. Cut yarn, leaving 8-12 inches. Thread tapestry needle and thread the yarn through the 6 stitches, cinch tight to close. Weave ends into inside securely. DONE!!

I do think this hat would be made even better with a pom pom on the top. Either one with leftover yarn or faux fur.

I do plan on casting on another hat right away, likely tonight in a blue for a gift. This was a super quick knit for me. Since I knit mostly fingering weight projects, I'm always pleasantly surprised at how quickly worsted weight knits up. You's think after decades of knitting that this wouldn't be a revelation every time. Like it's knitting magic, how quickly I'm getting a project done!

Comments

[mellenknits]

I'm a sucker for a great green! And it plays nicely with the color of your eyes :)

[Allison]

Me too! Green is my yarn kryptonite!

[Denise]

Thanks so much for this pattern, Allison. I needed a quick, mindless project to knit that go with mindless mittens for Christmas!

[Donna]

That would go well with what I call the slinky cowl I knit for my daughter years ago. Actually I knit 2 - 1 in a similar green from DIC & one in a lighter weight charcoal DK Debby Bliss merino (when she moved to DC where the winters are not as bone chilling as Chicago’s). She never wears hats or I’d knit one for her.