One morning, we woke up - and it was snowing. It was the kind of snow when the flakes are giant and everything is quiet.
A perfect morning for a walk in the woods, wearing a cozy hat to keep you warm.
When deciding on the color of yarn to knit, I was drawn to Beach Glass because of its light color and because it reminded me of water flowing over rocks. The color is hard to capture through photography. It easily shifts with the light. It is a light grey-purple color with hints of green. There are many other colors to choose from.
The stitch pattern on the hat is a classic from Barbara Walker's amazing collection of stitch patterns, which can be found in her stitch dictionaries. I was drawn to the graphic nature of the zigzags. It is made through a combination of slipping stitches while holding the yarn in front of the work, knitting, and purling. I found the stitch pattern mesmerizing as it worked back and forth, and before I knew it, the hat was off the needles.
Granite Ridge Hat Pattern
Finished Measurements
19" circumference
8.5" from cast-on to top of hat (excluding pom-pom)
Yarn
A Verb for Keeping Warm Clover (80% Montana Targhee wool - 20% silk; 200 yards / 50 grams), Beach Glass, 1 skein
Needles
One 16" US 5 (3.75 mm) circular needle, and one set of US 5 (3.75 mm) double pointed needles, or size needed to obtain gauge
Gauge
6 sts / 1" and 11 rows / 1" in zigzag pattern.
Notions
Stitch Markers, blunt tapestry needle
Abbreviations
K: Knit.
P: Purl.
WYIF: With yarn in front.
K2TOG: Knit 2 stitches together.
SSK: Slip, slip, knit.
SM: Slip marker.
Directions
Cast on 114 stitches. Place marker. Join in the round, careful not to twist.
Ribbing:
Round 1: *K2, P4; repeat from * to end.
Repeat for 1/2".
Start zigzag pattern:
Round 1: *Slip 2 WYIF, K4; repeat from * to end.
Round 2: K1, *Slip 2 WYIF, K4; repeat from * until 5 st from end, Slip 2 WYIF, K3.
Round 3: K2, *Slip 2 WYIF, K4; repeat from * until 4 st from end, Slip 2 WYIF, K2.
Round 4: K3, *Slip 2 WYIF, K4; repeat from * until 3 st from end, Slip 2 WYIF, K1.
Round 5: K4, *Slip 2 WYIF, K4; repeat from * until 2 st from end, Slip 2 WYIF.
Round 6: K3, *Slip 2 WYIF, K4; repeat from * until 3 st from end, Slip 2 WYIF, K1.
Round 7: K2, *Slip 2 WYIF, K4; repeat from * until 4 st from end, Slip 2 WYIF, K2.
Round 8: K1, *Slip 2 WYIF, K4; repeat from * until 5 st from end, Slip 2 WYIF, K3.
Repeat rounds 1-8 seven times (for a total of 8 repeats).
Decrease set-up round: Repeat round 1 once more, placing 1 new marker every 19 stitches, for a total of 6 evenly spaced markers (including beginning of round marker).
Decreases:
Round 1: K2TOG, *knit until 2 stitches before marker, SSK, SM, K2TOG; repeat from * 4 times and then knit until 2 stitches before end of round, SSK. 12 stitches decreased.
Round 2: Knit all stitches.
Repeat rounds 1 and 2 until there are only 18 stitches left on your needles.
Final Decrease Round: *K2TOG; repeat from * to end. 9 stitches.
To finish, cut yarn with a 6" tail. Thread through remaining stitches, carefully pull stitches taut and weave in ends. Block. And top with a pom-pom if you wish. Voila! You are done.
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Tomorrow on the blog, read about how we mapped the land around the Montana cabin - and foraged materials for dyestuffs. Learn tips and tricks for your own mapping and foraging process.