Waycross Hat

Waycross Hat
pictured in size Adult Small/Medium

I would love to say that I had some divine inspiration for this hat, but it all boiled down to the colors and how much I love them, especially together. This slipped stitch pattern also gives you plenty of bang for your buck; although it's easy to work, it looks a bit more intricate than it actually is. The Waycross Hat also features a nice unisex design, although your average man might prefer different colors...

Sizes: Adult Small/Medium (Adult Medium/Large)

Yarn: Malabrigo Chunky (100% Merino Wool; 100 yards [91 meters]/100 grams); #83 Water Green - one skein (color A), & #21 Cactus Flower - one skein (color B)

A better look at the back.

Needles: One 16" circular needle in size US 9, one 16" circular needle in size US 11, and one set of double pointed needles (dpns), also in size US 11

Notions: Tapestry needle

Gauge: 12 stitches = 4 inches in stockinette on size US 11 needles

So let's make a hat! Using your size US 9 needle and your color A yarn, then, cast on 66 (72) stitches loosely, place marker, and join in round. Then work the following ribbing:

Ribbing Row: * k1, p1; rep from *

Work this row until ribbing measures roughly 2" - 2.5" (2.5" - 3") and transfer work to your size US 11 needle. Knit two rows around. Then we'll begin our color pattern, which is Waycross from page 236 of Barbara G. Walker's Charted Knitting Designs: A Third Treasury of Knitting Patterns. To make it, you'll need the following terminology:

knit 1 elongated (k1-e): knit one stitch, wrapping the yarn twice, and then dropping the extra wrap from the needle on the subsequent row (video below)

long stitch cross (lsc): drop elongated stitch off of needle to front of work, sl2, drop next elongated stitch off of needle to front of work; pick up first dropped stitch onto left-hand needle, slip the same 2 stitches back from the right-hand needle to the left hand needle, then with right-hand needle pick up second dropped stitch and place it on left-hand needle (video below)

So, once you're familiar with the terminology, we'll continue like so:

Row 1: using your color B yarn, * k1, slip 2 stitches purlwise with yarn in back (sl2), k3; rep from *

Row 2: using your color B yarn, * k1-e, sl2, k1-e, k2 *

Rows 3 & 4: using your color A yarn, * sl1, k2 *

Row 5: using your color B yarn, * lsc; then k1, sl2, k3 *

Row 6: using your color B yarn, * k1, sl2, k3 *

Rows 7 & 8: using your color A yarn, * k4, sl2 *

Knit rows 1 - 8 once and then knit rows 1 - 6 again. Clip the tail for your color B yarn, since you're done with it. Knit with color A in stockinette until hat measures roughly 8" (9"). Then we'll work the decrease, as follows:

Decrease Row 1: * k4, k2tog * (55 stitches [60 stitches])

You're going to want to transfer your work to your dpns about now...

Decrease Row 2: * k3, k2tog * (44 stitches [48 stitches])

Decrease Row 3: * k2, k2tog * (33 stitches [36 stitches])

Decrease Row 4: * k1, k2tog * (22 stitches [24 stitches])

Decrease Row 5: * k2tog * (11 stitches [12 stitches])

Decrease Row 6 - size Adult Small/Medium: k1, * k2tog * (6 stitches [--])

Decrease Row 6 - size Adult Medium/Large: * k2tog * (-- [6 stitches])

Complete decrease rows 1 - 6, clip yarn tail, thread on tapestry needle, and thread through final 6 stitches. Pull tight, thread to inside of hat, and knot. Tuck in ends. Block, if desired.