Butterfly Eyelet Hat

Butterfly Eyelet Hat

As a woman who has had short hair the majority of her life, I rarely find myself needing a very slouchy hat (and thus often design beanies). But sometimes I remember that the rest of you may very well have crazy, messy, big hair that needs a big ol' hat to go on top of it. And that's why I designed the Butterfly Eyelet Hat, which has enough stretch and length to fit over a long, luscious 'do (or just to accent a short one). Anyway, if there's anyone out there who likes the pattern but would prefer a snugger fit to their hat, just hit me up in the comments and we'll see what we can do!

Yarn: Cascade 220 Superwash (100% Superwash Wool; 220 yards [200 meters]/100 grams); #1940 Peach – one skein (color A) and #910A Winter White - one skein (color B)

The pattern. Cute little eyelets, eh?

Needles: One 16" circular needle in size US 5, one 16" circular needle in size US 7, one set of double-pointed needles (dpns), also in size US 7

Notions: Tapestry needle, stitch marker

Gauge: 20 stitches = 4 inches in stockinette on size 7 needles

So let's make a hat! First, then, using your size 5 needle and your color A yarn, cast on 112 stitches, place marker, and join in round. Then we'll knit the following ribbing row to get started:

Ribbing Row: using color A, * k2, p2; rep from *

Knit this ribbing row until ribbing measures roughly 1.5". Transfer work to your size US 7 circular needle and, continuing to use color A, knit two rows around. Now we'll begin the main pattern, which is Butterfly Eyelet from page 159 of Barbara G. Walker's Charted Knitting Designs: A Third Treasury of Knitting Patterns and goes as follows:

Row 1: using color A, * k2, yo, ssk, k2tog, yo, k10 *

Rows 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, & 20: using color A, knit, working (p1, k1) in each double yo (which only occur in rows 3, 7, 13, & 17; for all other rows, you needn't worry about this part of the instruction)

Row 3: using color A, * k2tog, yo, k2tog, (yo) twice, ssk, yo, ssk, k8 *

Row 5: using color A, * (yo, ssk) twice, (k2tog, yo) twice, k8 *

Row 7: using color A, * k2tog, yo, k2tog, (yo) twice, ssk, yo, ssk, k8 *

Row 9: using color A, * k2, yo, ssk, k2tog, yo, k10 *

Row 11: using color A, * k10, yo, ssk, k2tog, yo, k2 *

Row 13: using color A, * k8, k2tog, yo, k2tog, (yo) twice, ssk, yo, ssk *

Row 15: using color A, * k8, (yo, ssk) twice, (k2tog, yo) twice *

Row 17: using color A, * k8, k2tog, yo, k2tog, (yo) twice, ssk, yo, ssk *

Row 19: using color A, * k10, yo, ssk, k2tog, yo, k2 *

Rows 21 - 40: using color B, repeat rows 1 - 20. 

Knit rows 1 - 40. And once that's done, we'll begin our decreases, which go as follows:

Decrease Row 1: using color A, knit

Decrease Row 2: using color A, * k25, k3tog * (104 stitches)

Decrease Row 3: using color A, knit

Decrease Row 4: using color A, * k23, k3tog * (96 stitches)

Decrease Row 5: using color A, * k21, k3tog * (88 stitches)

Decrease Row 6: using color A, * k19, k3tog* (80 stitches)

You may want to switch to your dpns about now...

Decrease Row 7: using color A, * k17, k3tog* (72 stitches)

Decrease Row 8: using color A, * k15, k3tog * (64 stitches)

Decrease Row 9: using color A, * k13, k3tog * (56 stitches)

Decrease Row 10: using color A, * k11, k3tog * (48 stitches)

Decrease Row 11: using color A, * k9, k3tog * (40 stitches)

Decrease Row 12: using color A, * k7, k3tog * (32 stitches)

Decrease Row 13: using color A, * k5, k3tog * (24 stitches)

Decrease Row 14: using color A, * k3, k3tog * (16 stitches)

Decrease Row 15: using color A, * k1, k3tog * (8 stitches)

Clip yarn tail, thread through final 8 stitches, and pull tight. Thread to inside of hat and knot. Tuck in ends and, if desired, block.