Lace Butterfly Hat

Lace Butterfly Hat

Okay, so this hat is for the same person who requested the Mesh Flower Hat, and she wanted something that was similar and in the same yarn, but that had larger holes.  And that pretty much covers it, although I will note that this hat is slightly slouchier, and I had more yarn left over, so it didn't get quite as scary at the end.  Oh, and I think the "butterfly" aspect of the lace would show up better in a lighter-colored yarn, but I still like the vine-y nature of the pattern.

Yarn: Berroco Ultra Alpaca Light (50% Super Fine Alpaca, 50% Peruvian Wool; 144 yards [133 meters]/50 grams); #4277 Peat Mix - one skein

Needles: One 16" circular needle in size 5, one 16" circular needle in size 8, one set of double pointed needles (dpns) in size 8

Close-up of pattern

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.  Work one inch in a k1, p1 ribbing and then switch to your size 8 needle; now it's time to begin the main pattern, which is Lace Butterfly from page 189 of Barbara G. Walker's A Treasury of Knitting Patterns, except adapted for the round. 

Row 1: * (yo) twice, ssk, k2tog; rep from *

Row 2: * (p1, p1-back) in double yo, k2 *

Row 3: remove marker, slip one stitch, and replace marker; next * (yo) twice, ssk, k2tog *

Row 4: * (p1, p1-back) in double yo, k2 * (same as row 2)

Row 5: remove marker, slip one stitch, and replace marker; next * k2tog, (yo) twice, ssk *

Row 6: * k1, (p1, p1-back) in double yo, k1 *

Row 7: * k2tog, (yo) twice, ssk *

Row 8: * k1, (p1, p1-back) in double yo, k1 * (same as row 6)

Repeat rows 1 - 8 until piece measures roughly 6 inches and you've just completed row 8.  Now we're going to start towards the decrease, although you'll need the following notation to proceed:

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)

Row 1: * (yo) twice, ssk, k2tog; rep from *

Row 2: * [(k1, k1-back) in double yo, k2] twice, (p1, p1-back) in double yo, k2 *

Row 3: * k1, rt, lt, k2, k2tog, (yo) twice, ssk, k1 *

Row 4: * k8, (p1, p1-back) in double yo, k2 *

Row 5: * rt, k2, lt, k1, k2tog, (yo) twice, ssk, k1 *

Row 6: remove marker, slip first stitch, replace marker; then * k4, ssk, k1, (p1, p1-back) in double yo, k1, k2tog *

Row 7: * k5, k2tog, (yo) twice, ssk, k1 *

Now's probably a good time to switch to your dpns

Row 8: * k4, ssk, (p1, p1-back) in double yo, k2tog *

Row 9: * k4, ssk, k2tog *

Row 10: * k4, k2tog *

Row 11: * p3, p2tog *

Row 12: * k2, k2tog *

Row 13: * p1, p2tog *

Row 14: * k2tog *

Clip thread; thread through final 10 stitches, bring to inside of hat and knot.  Tuck in ends.