Floral Mesh Beanie

Floral Mesh Beanie

I've been posting a lot of user-suggested patterns recently, and the Floral Mesh Beanie is no exception. After completing the Floral Mesh Scarf and Bonnet, I've had requests for a simpler hat as well. And while this stitch pattern doesn't lend itself quite as seamlessly to the round as I would like, that's just because I'm a perfectionist. In practice, you'd never find the seam, although you will have to do a bit stitch-slipping to keep the thing lined up correctly.

Yarn: Plymouth Yarn DK Merino Superwash (100% Superwash Fine Merino Wool; 130 yards [119 meters]/50 grams); #1122 Wisteria - one to two skeins (I got by with one)

The Floral Mesh pattern.
I still love it, guys.

Needles: One 16" circular needle in size US 5, one 16" circular needle in size US 6, one set of double pointed needles (dpns), also in size US 6

Notions: Tapestry needle, stitch marker

Gauge: 22 stitches = 4 inches in stockinette on size 6 needle

So let's make a hat! Since the lace pattern on this hat has a larger gauge than your ribbing, it's one of the few instances where you'll be casting on more stitches, and then decreasing before you hit the mesh. With that in mind, and using your size 5 16" needle, then, cast on 112 stitches loosely, place marker, and join in round. Then we'll work a ribbing row as follows:

Ribbing Row: * k1, p1, k2, p1, k1, p1; rep from *

Knit this ribbing row until piece measures roughly 1.5". Transfer work to your size 6" circular needle, and we'll knit two transition rows, as follows:

Transition Row 1: * k1, p1, k2tog, p1, k1, p1 * (96 stitches)

Transition Row 2: knit

Then we'll begin the main stitch pattern, which is Floral Mesh from page 218 of Barbara G. Walker's A Fourth Treasury of Knitting Patterns, except adapted for the round. And it goes like so:

Row 1: * ssk, k1, k2tog, yo, k3, yo * 

Rows 2, 4, 6, & 8: knit

Row 3: * yo, k3, yo, k2tog, yo, slip 2 together knitwise-k1-pass 2 slipped stitches over (sl2-k1-p2sso) *

Row 5: * k2tog, yo, k1, yo, ssk, yo, sl2-k1-p2sso, yo *

Row 7: remove marker, slip 1 stitch knitwise, and replace marker. Then, * yo, k3, yo, ssk, k1, k2tog *

Row 9: * yo, k2tog, yo, sl2-k1-p2sso, yo, k3 * 

Row 10: knit until you have 1 stitch left in round, slip stitch knitwise, remove marker, slip stitch back to left-hand needle, and replace marker

Row 11: * ssk, yo, sl2-k1-p2sso, yo, k2tog, yo, k1, yo *

Row 12: knit

Knit rows 1-12 three times and then knit rows 1 & 2 once more. Then, we'll begin our decreases, which go as follows:

Decrease Row 1: remove marker, slip 1 stitch knitwise, and replace marker. Then, * k2, yo, k2tog, yo, sl2-k1-p2sso, yo, k2, ssk, k3, k2tog * (84 stitches)

Decrease Row 2: knit

Decrease Row 3: * k1, yo, ssk, yo, sl2-k1-p2sso, yo, k2tog, yo, k1, ssk, k1, k2tog * (72 stitches)

Decrease Row 4: knit

You'll probably want to switch to your dpns about now...

Decrease Row 5: * k2, yo, ssk, k1, k2tog, yo, k2, sl2-k1-p2sso * (60 stitches)

Decrease Row 6: knit

Decrease Row 7: * k1, ssk, k3, k2tog, k2 * (48 stitches)

Decrease Row 8: knit

Decrease Row 9: * k1, ssk, k1, k2tog, k2 * (36 stitches)

Decrease Row 10: knit

Decrease Row 11: * k1, sl2-k1-p2sso, k2 * (24 stitches)

Decrease Row 12: knit

Decrease Row 13: * sl2-k1-p2sso, k1 * (12 stitches)

Decrease Row 14: * k2tog * (6 stitches) 

Clip yarn tail and thread through final 6 stitches. Pull tight, thread to inside of hat, and knot. Tuck in ends.