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Thursday
Nov052009

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

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.  

Reader Comments (15)

This hat is adorable, however I'd love to see a picture of someone wearing it to get a better idea of how it looks on.
November 5, 2009 | Unregistered Commenterkim
I can't wait to knit this!!!!
November 5, 2009 | Unregistered Commenterjeannette
What does it look like when it's on? It's a beautiful hat, but I'm confused with the proportions...
November 5, 2009 | Unregistered CommenterMargot
I will try to knit this, it seems really wonderful. Thanks for sharing.
November 5, 2009 | Unregistered Commenterbanu
Super cute! I would also love to see a picture of the hat on a head... with and without ponytail/bun!!!
THANK YOU for the pattern!!!
xox
November 5, 2009 | Unregistered CommenterLisa
I'm with Kim, Margot, and Lisa! I want this hat to be the answer to "What should I do with almost a whole hank of STR heavyweight I have leftover?" but I need to know what it looks like on. Is it like the Simple Pleasures hat? That one is a favorite.
November 5, 2009 | Unregistered CommenterCristina
Yes. I just answered my own question by clicking the links...
November 5, 2009 | Unregistered CommenterCristina
Hi all!

It is very similar to the simple pleasures hat from Whitney - I was inspired by that project! It isn't quite as slouchy as hers because the fiber has a different drape.

Sorry it isn't on a person - there was only one person available and she had to take the photo :)

Jen
November 5, 2009 | Unregistered Commenterjen
I really love the look of this hat- I usually have my hair up too-can't wait to try this one out-thanks :)
November 7, 2009 | Unregistered Commenterandreacreates.blogspot.com
can you use knitting worsted weight yarn and how about a child size pattern
November 21, 2009 | Unregistered Commentermarge
Can you wash it? Did you block it? Mine came out a bit big and I want to try to shrink it by 15% or so. Any advice?
November 26, 2009 | Unregistered CommenterMew
I just started making this hat yesterday, and I'm a little confused by the repeat of the 8 rounds 6 times (48 rows?) because that seems like an awful lot of rounds. I've repeated the 8 rounds 3 times (24 rows) and the hat seems to be the right size to begin the decreasing.
December 30, 2009 | Unregistered CommenterKara
Kara, I have the same question. From looking at the photos and counting the repeats, it looks like those 8 rounds are repeated 3 times. Can the author please verify this? I'm on the 3rd repeat so it's urgent :)
January 15, 2010 | Unregistered CommenterJen
Hi Jen and Kara,
The hat is a slouchy style, which is why it has 6 repeats. It is correct but of course you can make it shorter if you want to!
January 15, 2010 | Registered Commenterpurl bee
Hi, I actually have started this hat with the needles I have 4.5mm and a 5mm needle. Unfortunately I am knitting it flat with Lionbrand Homespun yarn and not this lovely wool and had to figure out the number of stitches to use as 112 cast on was too many :) I used 96 stitches to start with increasing to 112 (i figured out one had to decrease in an even multiple of 7) I'm nearly done and I'ld love to show you a picture of it once finished. It isn't as tight as the one I saw in store - I was amazed at that (I have a problem with bringing the yarn forward losely making holes in the checker pattern - well I think that is the cause). But proud that it resembles the pic - at least I think so. Hopefully I sew it up nicely.
March 10, 2010 | Unregistered CommenterEsta

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