A Week of Knitted Hats! Day 2 - Clamber (Irish Hiking Scarf companion)

The Clamber hat was designed by Laura Wilson-Martos to compliment the Irish Hiking Scarf (see A Week of Scarves - Day 1.) Adorable! Like the scarf, it looks much more difficult than it really is. This is a free internet pattern - see fine print at the bottom of this post for copyright usage compliance.

Clamber©

Materials:
Yarn: Misti International Misti Alpaca Sport [100% baby alpaca; 50g. 146yds/ball] 1 ball; Red Fiesta Melange
Needles: 1 set US size 4 [3.50 mm] DPNs and/or
1 US size 4 [3.5mm] 16”circular or
1 US size 4 [3.5 mm] 32” cable for magic loop
Gauge: 24 sts = 4" stockinette stitch

Terms & Stiches:
pm - place marker to indicate beginning of round
C6F - Slip 3 sts to cable needle and hold in front. K3, then knit the 3 sts off cable needle
C4F - Slip 2 sts to cable needle and hold in front. K2, then knit the 2 sts off cable needle
C2F - Slip 1 stitch to cable needle and hold in front. K1, then knit the stitch off cable needle
SSK - Slip one stitch as if to knit, slip the next stitch as if to purl, knit the two together through the back loops.
K2tog - Knit 2 together
P2tog - Purl 2 together

Directions:
• Provisionally CO 16 stitches
• Begin Brim Cable Repeat as follows:

Row 1 (WS) P3, K2, P6, K2, P3
Row 2 (RS) K3, P2, K6, P2, K3
Row 3 Repeat row 1
Row 4 K3, P2, C6F, P2, K3
Row 5 Repeat row 1
Row 6 Repeat row 2
Row 7 Repeat row 1
Row 8 Repeat row 2

• Repeat rows 1- 8 until piece measure 21” or approximate head circumference, ending on row 7.
• Remove provisional cast-on and graft ends to form a band.
• Pick up and knit 132 stitches completely around one of the outside edges of the band you just made
• Begin Hat Cable Repeat:
Round 1: pm [K2, P2, K6, P2] 11 times
Round 2: [K2, P2, K6, P2] 11 times
Round 3: Repeat row 1
Round 4: Repeat row 2
Round 5: Repeat row 1
Round 6: Repeat row 2
Round 7: Repeat row 1
Round 8: [K2, P2, C6F, P2] 11 times

• Repeat Rounds 1-8 until piece measures a total of approximately 6”, ending on row 3

Next Row: [K2, P2, SSK, K2, K2tog, P2] 11 times (110 sts)
Row 2: [K2, P2, K4, P2] 11 times
Row 3: [K2, P2tog, C4F, P2tog] 11 times (88 sts)
Row 4: [K2, P1, K4, P1] 11 times
Row 5: [K2, P1, SSK, K2tog, P1] 11 times (66 sts)
Row 6: [K2, P1, K2, P1] 11 times
Row 7: [K2tog, P1, C2F, P1] 11 times (55 sts)
Row 8: [K1, P1, K2, P1] 11 times
Row 9: [K1, P1, SSK, P1] 11 times (44 sts)
Row 10: [K1, P1, K1, P1] 11 times
Row 11: K2tog all around (22 sts)
Row 12: K2tog all around (11 sts)
Row 13: [K2tog] 5 times (6 sts)

• Break yarn and thread through remaining loops twice, removing them from needle.
• Snug it up tight and secure ends.
• Weave in ends and block lightly, being careful not to overblock. Overblocking will eliminate the 3-dimensional look of the cap.

Pictures and pattern by Laura Wilson-Martos - © Copyright 2008 Laura Wilson-Martos and Dizzy Blonde Designs all rights reserved. This pattern is provided for your personal use only. You may not sell this pattern, nor sell the items made using this pattern.

A Week of Knitted Hats! Day 1 - Basic Hat Pattern

I had fun with the "Week of Scarves" posts, so I thought I'd do the same with hats. My first hat post will be directions for a basic hat pattern. I've used this one a few times, changing a few things here and there to customize my hat. I'm working on a basic hat pattern now and I've added a couple of inches to the length so that I can have a wide rolled edge. However you decide to customize your hat, these directions will give you the basics for a correct fit.

Basic Hat Pattern

Materials: approximately 3 oz. skein of yarn

Needles: 16 circular needles or dp needles in a size that corresponds to the yarn you are using

Do the Math: Do a gauge swatch sample in stockinette stitch. Measure how many stitches you have per inch. This will be "A".

Measure how many inches around you'd like your hat to be (adults are typically around 20"-22"). Subtract 1" to 2" from this number, depending on whether you want a snug or looser fit. This will be "B".

Take "A" (nbr of stitches per inch) times "B" (your inches around minus 1-2"). This will be "C". Add or subtract a little from "C" until this number is divisible by 10. This is your new "C".

Add or subtract a little from "C" to make it divisible by 4. This is "D".

The difference between "C" and "D" is "E".

Directions: Cast on "D" stitches. Working in the round, do knit 2, purl 2 ribbing until the ribbing is desired length. If the hat is to be worn with the ribbing folded up, make the ribbing long enough to be folded (approximately 6" for adult size).

After the ribbing, work in stockinette stitch. Increase or decrease "E" so that you have "C" stitches on the needle. Continue to work in stockinette until the hat (from the cast on edge or fold of the brim) measures 5 1/2" for child, 6" for teen, 6 1/5" for women, or 7" for men.

To decrease for the top of the hat:
K8, k2tog around
K two rounds even
K7, k2tog around
K two rounds even
K6, k2tog around

Continue in this decrease pattern. When you get dow to around half of "D", decrease every round.
Last round: K2tog around. Break yarn, draw through remaining stitches.

*If your number of cast on stitches ("D") is divisible by 9, start your decreases for the top of the hat with K7, k2tog...
*If your number of cast on stitches ("D") is divisible by 8, start your decreases for the top of the hat with K6, k2tog...
*If your number of cast on stitches ("D") is divisible by 7, start your decreases for the top of the hat with K5, k2tog...
*If your number of cast on stitches ("D") is divisible by 6, start your decreases for the top of the hat with K4, k2tog...