Shrinking Mimsy's Garter Band Hat

Shrinking Mimsy’s Garter Band Hat

Gauge= 4 stitches per inch on size 8- 16” circular needle for a 20” circumference hat, Needs – 3 to 4 ounces worsted weight yarn in two colors, size 8 circular and 16” double point needles. With a smooth waste yarn, cast 14 stitches onto a size 8 needle. Knit back and forth. Before last stitch on each row, bring yarn to front, as if to purl, slip last stitch. Knit 4 or 5 rows, switch to main color yarn for band. Continue to knit back and forth, slipping last stitch for 120 rows, (60 garter ridges). Pick up first row of main color stitches with a smaller (size 6 or so) double pointed needle. (Photo 1)Carefully snip waste yarn stitches, (Photo 2) and remove them from the “live” stitches.

Photo 1 Photo 2 Graft the stitches from the first row with the stitches from the last row. You will have a circular band. With 16” circular needle, pick up one stitch for each garter row, for a total of 60 stitches. Knit around in garter stitch (knit one row, purl one row) until hat measures 6 inches from bottom of band. Decrease as follows: Decrease Row 1: Knit 4, Knit 2 together around Decrease Row 2(and all even rows): purl around Decrease Row 3: K3, K2tog around Decrease Row 5: K2, K2tog around Decrease Row 7: K1, K2tog around Decrease Row 9: K2tog around Break off yarn, leaving 10 inch tail. Thread tail through remaining stitches and pull tight. Bring thread to inside of hat, weave in ends. Enjoy!