Brenda's Top Down Hat

VARIATIONS EAR FLAP HAT First you will need to do some math. Ear Flaps = 20% of total stitches each (total as per *Chart “A”) Hat Front = 40% of total stitches Hat Back = 20% of total stitches EX: A 100 stitch hat has ear flaps and hat back with 20 stitches each. The hat front has 40 sts. After working one inch of trim, cast off Hat Back (20% of total stitches). Work back and forth (Garter, Stockinet or Seed Stitch) on next 20% of stitches until flap measures 2 ½ inches from beginning of trim. End with a wrong side row. Decrease as follows: Row 1(RS) knit one, SSK, Knit to last 3 stitches. K 2 tog, K1. Row 2.(WS) Work even. No decreases. Repeat rows 1 & 2 until ear flap is about 3” - 3 ¼” from beginning of trim. Cast off. Join yarn and cast off Hat Front (40% of total stitches). Work second ear flap as first ear flap. TAM Cast on 4 sts. Knit f&b of each stitch. (8 stitches) Place a marker after each stitch. Knit f&b of each stitch. (16 sts) Next Round: *K f&b in first stitch. Knit to marker. Repeat around. Next Round: Knit. – no increases Repeat last 2 rounds, until Tam measures 9–10” across. Begin decreasing: Round 1: * K2 tog. Knit to marker. Repeat around hat. Round 2. Knit Repeat last two rounds, until you reach the number of stitches required for your hat as per *Chart “A”. Work one inch of edging –either ribbing or garter stitch. Cast Off.

Brenda’s “One Pattern Makes All” Top Down Hat.

This hat is knit in the round, from the top down, using double pointed and /or circular needles. Use any yarn and needles you like. Make any size hat from baby to adult. Work the hat in stripes, lace or a fairisle pattern. Start with an inch or so of ‘ I Cord’ if you like. Just use the charts and your hat will be lovely. Abbreviations Knit Front & Back (K f&b) Knit the stitch as normal, but before letting it drop from the needle, insert the working needle into the back of the stitch and create a second stitch. K2tog - Insert right needle into first two stitches on left needle at same time. Knit both stitches together. (Right slanting decrease) SSK - As if to purl, slip the next two stitches, one at a time, from left to right needle. Insert left needle , from left to right into front of the two stitches and knit the two together.

BERET - or SLOUCHY TAM Work as for Tam until hat is 9 - 10” across. Then work 3 – 4 inches straight. The more your work straight, the slouchier the hat will be. Decrease and cast off as for Tam

This pattern is a compilation of several free hat patterns found on the internet. * The charts have been copied and/or modified from a free internet hat pattern by Silke Hupka

INSTRUCTIONS Although the hat is knit in the round, I find it easier to work the first 2 rows flat, due to the small number of stitches, After the first 2 rows, join and knit in the round. Leave a tail long enough to close the little hole left by these first two rows. Cast on 4 stitches. Round (Row) 1:Knit into the front & back of each stitch. (8 stitches) Round (Row) 2: K f&b ( purl if working flat) of each stitch.16 stitches. Place 4 stitches on each of 4 double pointed needles. Join. Make sure not to twist. Round 3: *Knit into the front & back of the 1st stitch on the needle. Knit to the last stitch. Knit into the front & back of the last stitch. Repeat from * for all needles. (8 increase stitches) Round 4. Knit. Repeat rounds 3 and 4. until you reach desired number of stitches. (See *Chart “A”) Once you have achieved the required number of stitches, stop increasing. Repeat round 4 only until hat reaches desired length. (See *Chart “B”) Length is measured straight down from cast on stitches. TRIM / EDGING Once hat reaches desired length, start trim. For trim that does not fold up, work one inch in either ribbing, garter stitch or seed stitch. For a trim that folds up, work 2 ½” Cast off.

EMBELLISHMENT If desired, trim out the hat with a row of single crochet in a contrasting colour around the edge.

*CHART “A”

The Left Hand column is YOUR gauge as measured over 4” of YOUR hat. Across the top of the chart are different hat sizes. Choose your desired hat size. Run your finger down that column until you come to the line with YOUR gauge. Keep working Rounds 3 & 4 until you reach that number of stitches. Gauge over 4 “ 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30

Baby 13” Hat 34 37 41 44 48 51 54 58 61 65 68 71 75 78 82 85 88 92 95 99 102

Toddler 15” Hat 38 42 46 49 53 57 61 65 68 72 76 80 84 87 91 95 99 103 106 110 114

Child 16” Hat 40 44 48 52 56 60 64 68 72 76 80 84 88 92 96 100 104 108 112 116 120

Adult S 17” Hat 44 48 53 57 62 66 70 75 79 84 88 92 97 101 106 110 114 119 123 128 132

*Chart “B” Baby 4”- 4 1/2 “ Toddler 5 “ – 5 ½” Child 6” Adult S 6” - 6 ½ “ Adult M 6 ½” - 7” Adult L 7” - 7 ½”

Adult M 18” Hat 46 51 55 60 64 69 74 78 83 87 92 97 101 106 110 115 120 124 129 133 138

Adult L 20”Hat 50 55 60 65 70 75 80 85 90 95 100 105 110 115 120 125 130 135 140 145 150