Whit's Knits: 70's Ski Hat
When I was a kid every guy I knew wore a hat like this. Triangular, striped and itchy. We've all softened a little in the last thirty years, so this updated version features an impossible-to-complain-about cashmere lining, which is easy once you learn how to do a provisional cast-on.
This Christmas I'm giving one to all of the men in my family. I can't wait to look around at them wearing their 70's Ski Hats, reminding me of how much I loved those times. --Whitney
The Materials
- 4 skeins of Cascade 220 (I used red #2427, orange #9463, yellow #7826 and green #8914.) By the way, this is enough yarn to make many hats.
- 1 skein of Jade Sapphire 2 ply cashmere (color The Blood Orange #30JB)
- A 16-inch US size 7 circular needle
- A circular needle smaller than a US size 7, any length
- A set of US size 7 double pointed needles
- 2 stitch markers
- A few yards of a smooth waste yarn (nothing fuzzy)
- A crochet hook a couple of sizes too big for the waste yarn
Gauge
5 stitches = 1 inch in st st using 1 strand of Cascade 220 and #7 needle
5.5 stitches = 1 inch in st st using 2 strands of 2 ply cashmere and #7 needle
Finished Size
20" circumference (to fit average man's head)
Provisional Cast-On
Start with the waste yarn, and crochet a chain 120 stitches long. Using 2 strands of 2 ply cashmere and the #7 needle, pick up 110 stitches. (Please refer to the Provisional Cast-on tutorial if you are unfamiliar with this cast-on.)
Place a marker on the right needle and join for working in the round, being careful not to twist stitches around needle.
Knit 23 rounds with the two strands of cashmere.
Change to main color (MC).
Round 1: *K9, K2tog, repeat from * to end of rnd. (100st)
Round 2: Purl
Knit 10 more rounds
K5 rounds with color A
K4 rounds with color B
K3 rounds with color C
Weave in all the ends.
Place the provisional cast-on onto the smaller circular needle (see the Provisional Cast-on Tutorial).
Fold the cashmere hem up inside the hat so that the two circular needle are parallel to each other.
Change to MC.
Next round: *K 1 stitch from the front needle and 1 stitch from the back needle together 9 times, K 1 stitch from the front needle and 2 stitches from the back needle together 1 time, repeat from * to end of round (100 stitches).
With MC knit until hat measures 6-inches from hem edge.
Next round: K1, SSK, K45, K2tog, place marker, K1, SSK, K45, K2tog.
Next round: K1, SSK, K to 2 stitches before next marker, K2tog, slip marker, K1, SSK, K to 2 stitches before end-of-the-round marker, K2tog.
Repeat this last round until there are 20 stitches left, switching to double pointed needles when necessary.
Slip stitches so that the first 10 stitches are on 1 needle and the second 10 stitches are on another needle.
Cut an 18-inch tail.
Bring the needles inside the opening at the top of the hat (yes, this is a kind of weird manouever), and turn the hat inside out.
Hold the two needles parallel and knit a three needle bind off. (You do this by knitting one stitch from the front needle together with one stitch from the back needle 2 times. Then pass the first stitch over the second, just like a normal bind off...)
Finally, I do something that I admit is a little control freakish. I don't like the idea of someone wearing this hat with the jogged stripe side in the front, so I tie a little piece of yarn on the hem that says "This is the back of the hat!"
All that's left is to weave in the ends, block the hat, and make a few more!
December 13, 2007
Reader Comments (7)
I'm with you about jog-annoyance. Check our Meg Swanson's jogless color joins. Save your little strings for next hat!