Colorful Crafting with Jen: Mushroom Hat

I love making and wearing hats, but many times when I actually need to wear one (which isn't too often since I live in Southern California) my hair is in a bun or a ponytail on top of my head, and if I don't take it down the hat won't cover my ears.  If I do take my hair down, I end up with pony tail bumps and hat head when the hat is off!    I've often wondered how I would ever solve this problem.  Along came an idea for a slouchy hat (thanks Whitney!), but I wanted mine to have a more room to hide my bun or ponytail so I increased the needle size and the amount of stitches after the extra long brim.  This gave the top of the hat a mushroom shape and still only took one skein of the Sheep Shop Three yarn! Enjoy! --Jen

Materials

• One skein of Sheep Shop Three (I used Seafoam for the top hat and Seashore for the bottom hat),  you can use any sport weight yarn for this hat but you will need at least  300 yards of yarn.
• US size 5, US size 7, 16-inch circular needles, and US size 7 double pointed needles
• Tapestry needle
• Stitch marker

Gauge

6 stitches per inch in stockinette on US size 5 needles

Finished Measurements

20-inch circumference unstretched
Approximately 8 inches from cast on to top.
This hat will fit an average woman's head

The Pattern

With US size 5 circular needle, cast on 112 stitches, join into a round being careful not to twist stitches.

Round 1: K2, p2.
Repeat this round for 3 inches.

Change to US size 7, 16-inch circular needle.

Increase round:  *K6, Kf&b; repeat from * to end of round (128 stitches).

Round 1 - 4:  *K4, p4; repeat from * to end of round.
Round 5 - 8:  *P4, k4; repeat from * to end of round.
Repeat these 8 rounds 5 times more for a total of 6 repeats.

Decrease round:  *K2,k2og, p2,p2tog; repeat from * to end of round.
Rounds 1and 2: *K3, p3; repeat from * to end of round
Rounds 3-5: *P3, k3; repeat from * to end of round. 
Rounds 6--8: *K3, p3; repeat from * to end of round.
Rounds 9-11: *P3, k3; repeat from * to end of round. 

Decrease round: *K1, k2tog, p1, p2tog; repeat from * to end of round.
Round 1: *K2, p2; repeat from * to end of round.
Round 2 and 3: *P2, k2; repeat from * to end of round.

Decrease round: *K2tog, p2tog; repeat from * to end of round.
Round 1: *P1, k1; repeat from * to end of round.
Round 2: *K2tog; repeat from * to end of round.

With tapestry needle thread yarn end through stitches and pull to close the top. 
Weave in ends on the inside of hat.