Mesh Flower Hat

Mesh Flower Hat

Alrighty!  First of all, I have to admit that I am super excited about this hat, pretty much exclusively because I knit it to specification for a friend.  Or in other words, she wanted something black, slouchy, and light-weight that would serve for multiple seasons.  And this hat is all of those things, and is even knit in a mesh (although I wasn't able to get a good close-up, so you're just going to have to trust that there are little holes between all of those nubblies).  Plus, a flower!  Awww....

Yarn: Berroco Ultra Alpaca Light (50% Super Fine Alpaca, 50% Peruvian Wool; 144 yards [133 meters]/50 grams); #4245 Pitch Black - I used one skein but I only had 15 feet or so left by the end - so you may need two skeins, ESPECIALLY if you decide to make this hat a bit slouchier

Needles: One 16" circular needle in size 5, one 16" circular needle in size 4, one set of double pointed needles (dpns) in size 4

Notions: Tapestry needle, stitch marker or yarn scrap to mark end of round (the scrap might work better, given the gauge)

Gauge: 23 stitches = 4 inches on size 5 needles

So let's get started!  Using the size 5 circular needle, cast on 120 stitches loosely, place marker, and join in round.

Knit in k1, p1 ribbing for 1 inch, then switch to your size 4 circular needle and the mesh pattern, which is as follows:

Row 1: * yo, ssk; rep from *

Row 2: * yo, p2tog *

Repeat rows 1 & 2 until piece measures about 6 inches in length (if you want to make sure you can knit it with one skein, maybe only knit until it measures 5 1/2" here) and you've just completed row 2.  You can add another inch or so if you have another skein and want it extra-slouchy.  Then, to continue, you'll need the following notation:

rt (right twist): knit two together, leaving stitches on left-hand needle; next, insert right-hand needle from the front between the two stitches just knitted together, and knit the first stitch again. Finally, slip both stitches from left-hand needle together

lt (left twist): with right-hand needle behind left-hand needle, skip one stitch and knit the second stitch in back loop; then insert right-hand needle into the backs of both stitches and k2tog-b (knit two together through back loops, inserting right needle from the right)

Now, proceed as follows:

Row 1: * yo, ssk, rt, lt, (yo, ssk) 9 times *

Row 2: * yo, p2tog, k4, (yo, p2tog) 9 times *

Row 3: * k1, rt, k2, lt, k1, (yo, ssk) 8 times *

Row 4: * p1, k6, p1, (yo, p2tog) 8 times *

Row 5: * rt, k4, lt, (yo, ssk) 8 times *

Row 6: * k8, (yo, p2tog) 8 times *

Row 7: remove the marker, slip the first stitch, and replace the marker.  Then * k6, lt, k1, (yo, ssk) 6 times, k1, rt *

Row 8: * k8, p1, (yo, p2tog) 6 times, p1, k2 *

Row 9: * k7, lt, (yo, ssk) 6 times, rt, k1 *

Row 10: * k9, (yo, p2tog) twice, ssk, k2tog, (yo, p2tog) twice, k3 *

Row 11: * k8, lt, k1, yo, ssk, k2, yo, ssk, k1, rt, k2 *

Row 12: * k10, p1, k1, ssk, k2tog, k1, p1, k4 *

Row 13: * k9, lt, p1, k2, p1, rt, k3 *

You're probably going to want to switch to your dpns right about now!

Row 14: * k11, ssk, k2tog, k5 *

Row 15: * k10, lt, rt, k4 *

Row 16: * k10, ssk, k2tog, k4 *

Row 17: * k9, ssk, k2tog, k3 *

Row 18: * k8, ssk, k2tog, k2 *

Row 19: * k7, ssk, k2tog, k1 *

Row 20: * k6, ssk, k2tog *

Row 21: remove the marker, slip first three stitches, and replace the marker (also, remember not to knit the stitches right after the slipped stitches too tightly, or you'll create a wee pinch in your hat); then * k2, ssk, k2tog, k2 *

Row 22: * k1, ssk, k2tog, k1*

Row 23: * ssk, k2tog *

Clip tail and loop through final 10 stitches; pull tight, knot on inside of hat.  Tuck in ends.