Ramble On Beanie

Ramble On Beanie
Pictured in size Adult Medium

Recently, I had the tremendous good fortune of attending the Loch Ness Knit Fest, where I both drank some truly horrendous coffee AND bought this truly spectacular yarn (you can imagine which one was more exciting...). And, like so many beautiful yarns, I determined that this skein needed a pretty but basic pattern that would show off its gorgeous variegation without too much extra fuss. Therefore I came up with the Ramble On Beanie, an excellent, unisex design that you can whip up in an afternoon!

Sizes: Toddler (Child; Teen/Adult Small; Adult Medium; Adult Large)

Yarn: Cookston Crafts Chunky Baby Alpaca (100% Baby Alpaca; 109 yards [100 meters]/100 grams); Multicolored Pastels (that's what I'm calling it since the color is unnamed!) - one skein (one skein; one skein; one - two skeins; two skeins)

Another look at the finish

Needles: One 16" circular needle in size US 10.5, and one set of double pointed needles (dpns), also in size US 10.5

Notions: tapestry needle, one stitch marker

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

So let's make a hat! Using your size US 10.5 circular needle, then, cast on 52 (56; 60; 64; 68) stitches loosely, place marker, and join in round. Then we'll work a ribbing as follows:

Ribbing Row: * k1, p1; rep from *

Knit this ribbing row until ribbing measures roughly 2" (2.5"; 3"; 3"; 4"). Then we'll move right to the main pattern, which is a variation of Rambler Pattern from page 122 of Barbara G. Walker's A Second Treasury of Knitting Patterns, except adapted for the round. And it goes like so. Notice that the pattern diverges into two groups for the rest of the instructions; make sure you're following the correct instructions for your size!

Rows 1, 3, & 5: * p1, k1 *

Rows 2, 4, & 6: * p1, knit next stitch in row below *

Rows 7, 9, & 11: * k1, p1 *

Rows 8, 10, & 12: * knit next stitch in row below, p1 *

If you're making the Toddler, the Child, or the Teen/Adult Small size, knit rows 1 - 12 twice. Then we'll work the following transition row:

Transition Row: * p1, k1 through back loop *

Work this transition row twice. Transfer work to your dpns, and we'll complete the decrease, as follows:

Decrease Row 1: * k2tog * (26 stitches [28 stitches; 30 stitches; --; --])

Decrease Row 2: * k2tog * (13 stitches [14 stitches; 15 stitches; --; --])

Decrease Row 3 (for sizes Toddler and Teen/Adult Small): k1, * k2tog * (7 stitches [--; 8 stitches; --; --])

Decrease Row 3 (for size Child): * k2tog * (-- [7 stitches; --; --; --])

Clip yarn tail, thread through remaining 7 (7; 8; --; --) stitches, pull tight, and thread to inside of hat. Knot. Tuck in ends and, if desired, block.

If you're making the Adult Medium or the Adult Large size, knit rows 1 - 12 twice and then knit rows 1 - 7 again. Then we'll work the following transition row:

Transition Row: * k1 through back loop, p1 *

Work this transition row 3 times. Transfer work to your dpns, and then we'll complete the decrease, as follows:

Decrease Row 1: * ssk * (-- [--; --; 32 stitches; 34 stitches])

Decrease Row 2: * ssk * (-- [--; --; 16 stitches; 17 stitches])

Decrease Row 3 (for size Adult Medium): * ssk * (-- [--; --; 8 stitches; --])

Decrease Row 3 (for size Adult Large): k1, * ssk * (-- [--; --; --; 9 stitches])

Clip yarn tail, thread through remaining -- (--; --; 8; 9) stitches, pull tight, and thread to inside of hat. Knot. Tuck in ends and, if desired, block.