Wednesday, May 12, 2010

Antelope Hat


There are some sweet, but simple details on this hat. There are instructions for a no-sew picot brim and cute little eyelets. This pattern is available in a slouch or beanie version.

Craft: knitting
Skill Level: Rookie-Apprentice-Virtuoso-Genius
Skills: knit, purl, YO, K2tog, blocking

Sizes: adult medium with instructions to adjust (fits approx. 21-22" head)
Finished Measurements: slouch - 9" long, 20" circumference; beanie - 6.5" long, 20" circumference (lying flat)

Gauge: 18 sts x 36 rows = 4" on 5 mm in patt; (18 sts = 4" in st st on 5 mm as given on ball band)
Yarn: 100g, 210 yds (192 m) worsted weight yarn (less for beanie)
Suggested Brand: 1 skein Malabrigo Merino Worsted (fair warning: I found a lot of variation in the gauge with this yarn - always knit a gauge swatch before you cast on!)

Needles/Hooks: 4 mm 16" circular; 5 mm 16" circular; 5 mm dpns
Other Materials: tapestry needle or teeny crochet hook


Notes and Tips:
> Use a natural fibre that will respond to blocking.
> For well-defined eyelets make your YOs loose.
> The first YO of your rnd will likely wrap behind your marker - don’t make an extra YO at the end of your rnd.

Instructions:

With 4 mm needles, CO 88 sts (or multiple of 8).
Join in rnd being careful not to twist sts, pm for beg of rnd.

No-Sew Picot Brim: (or see below for alternatives)
Rnd 1-2: knit
Rnd 3 (eyelet rnd): *YO, K2tog*, rep from * to * to end of rnd.
Rnd 4: knit

Next (”sewing” up the edge): *insert needle into next st as if to K1tbl, fold CO edge up with the WS folding in towards you and pick up the corresponding purl st from the WS CO edge and place it on the needle, knit these two sts together; K1*, rep from * to * to end of rnd.

Note: Don’t forget to skip one st on the CO edge when you are “sewing“ it up - you should be picking up every other st. You may choose to knit every st together instead of working a K1 - this makes a neater edge, but is harder on your hands.
Also, be sure you are picking up the correct st from the WS, otherwise your picots will be skewed.

Next: Knit 3 rnds.
Next: work a K1, P1 rib for 5 rnds.

Change to 5mm circs. Work the following 16 rnds twice for a beanie and 3 times for a slouch (or 4 or 5...).

Rnd 1: purl
Rnd 2-4: knit
Rnd 5: purl
Rnd 6 (eyelet): YO, K2 tog, rep to end of rnd.
Rnd 7: purl
Rnd 8-13: rep rnds 2-7.
Rnd 14-16: knit

Dec Rnds:
Change to dpns when sts get too tight on circs.

Rnd 1: *K5, K3tog, YO*, rep from * to * to end of rnd.
Rnd 2 (and all even rnds): knit
Rnd 3: *K4, K3tog, YO*, rep from * to * to end of rnd.
Rnd 5: *K3, K3tog, YO*, rep from * to * to end of rnd.
Rnd 7: *K2, K3tog, YO*, rep from * to * to end of rnd.
Rnd 9: *K1, K3tog, YO*, rep from * to * to end of rnd.
Rnd 11: *K3tog, YO*, rep from * to * to end of rnd.
Rnd 12: knit
Rnd 13: K2tog around.

Cut yarn and pull through rem sts; weave in ends.

Steam block with an iron and mist with a spray bottle; be firm with the brim so it doesn’t flip up.

Variations on the brim:

1. 1x1 rib: K1, P1 for 8 rnds
2. 2x2 rib: K2, P2 for 8 rnds
3. roll brim: knit until you have 1" of st st above the top of the roll (measure from the roll, not the CO edge)
4. OR work a roll brim combined with an inch (approx. 8 rnds) of rib