Magic Hat, Part One

Ok. I couldn't wait... here is the first installment of the "Magic Hat"

Note - I'm having trouble posting a chart... so you just get a text block of numbers for the cast on... its a bit strange to read, but if you count over you can still get the cast on number, based on the inches around the head in the first row... I'll get it fixed/alter the pattern later today...

This hat is magic because…
Make it from any fiber, in any size, or shape. Stitch directly from the pattern, or use simple techniques to customize your hat. Make pompoms, a ribbed or cabled brim and body, stripes, color work or zigzags, even add inset lace or intarsia. Additionally, forgo crown shaping to make a “square hat”.
(The speckled effect shown in the pink hat above can be created by making a "plain hat" and knitting while holding two colors of yarn at once for the entire hat)

Magic Hat

Skill Level
Beginning/Intermediate

Definitions
For Basic Hat
Gauge – number of stitches
CO – Cast On
K – Knit
P - Purl
K2tog – Knit together (Decrease)
DPN – Double Pointed Needle

For Other Options
P2tog – Purl together (Decrease)
MC – Main Color
CC – Contrasting Color
FM – Fixed Stitch Marker (the kind with a round look that stay on your needle)
MM – Movable Stitch Marker (the kind that are like a safety pin)
C6F – Cable 6 Front (only for cabled hat option)


Required Materials
1 MC skein of yarn
1 small circular needle (12-16 inches, gauged to yarn)
1 set double pointed needles (same size as circular)
1 tapestry needs
3 stitch markers (1 fixed, 2 movable)

Optional
Contrasting Colors for stripes
Cable needle

Starting out… cast on the given number of stitches for your yarn/needle gauge

At
This
Gauge For This Size Head
12” 14” 16” 17” 18” 19” 20” 21” 22” 23”
premie toddler child adult
Cast On This Many Stitches
2 sts/inch NR NR NR NR NR NR 45 45 45 45
2.5 sts/inch NR NR NR NR 45 45 54 54 54 63
3 sts/inch NR 45 45 54 54 54 63 63 63 72
3.5 sts/inch 45 45 54 63 63 63 72 72 81 81
4 sts/inch 45 54 63 72 72 72 81 81 90 90
4.5 sts/inch 63 63 72 72 81 81 90 90 99 99
5 sts/inch 63 72 81 81 90 90 99 108 108 117
5.5 sts/inch 63 81 90 90 99 108 108 117 117 126
6 sts/inch 72 81 99 99 108 117 117 126 135 135

NR – Not recommended
In this pattern directions are grouped 12”, 14”- 16”, 17” – 19”, 20”- 23” when size specific instructions are needed


Brim…

Join round, be careful not to twist your stitches
Place the FM at the beginning of the round
K until work measures 2 inches from cast on edge
Place MM to show where brim ends

Body of hat…

K until work measures 4”, 5”, 5.5”, 6” from the MM
Affix second MM

Crown – two options

Round Crown
note – move to DPNs when hat becomes too small for circular needle

Round 1 - *K 7, K2tog* to end of round
Round 2 – K to end of round (all even rounds)
Round 3 - *K 6, K2tog* to end of round
Round 5 - *K 5, K2tog* to end of round
Round 7 - *K 4, K2tog* to end of round
Round 9 - *K 3, K2tog* to end of round
Round 11 - *K 2, K2tog* to end of round
Round 13 - *K 1, K2tog* to end of round
Round 14 – Thread yarn through remaining stitches and tie off, Cut yarn, weave in ends

Square Crown

Starting at second MM, K until work measures 6”, 7”, 8”, 9” from the first MM
Leaving a three foot tail (1 yard), cut your active yarn
Using two scrap pieces of yarn, or your DPN, split work into two equal portions (one
on each yarn/needle (One portion should begin with the yarn leading to your
skein/ball)
Now fold your hat flat, making a rectangle with an open top and bottom (your
stitches will run in vertical lines of vs)
Using your 3 foot yarn tail, whip stitch all the loose stitches together in order to close
the crown of your hat, I recommend holding the work vertically between your knees, and whipping from left to right


If you want some more pizazz... check out, these fantastic how to instructions for tassels and pompons by Kate Gilbert