Hadley Hat

The latest hat pattern to make it's way off my needles (and the first in my Six Simple Hats For Fall series!) is one I'm more than excited to share. It was such fun to knit, quick both onto and off the needles, and comes with infinite possibilities. Simply stated, I am in love with this pattern ... and not ashamed to admit it!

Stripes. It's got to be the stripes. I have a never-ending love for stripes, and so being able to make a super simple striped hat stole my heart.

The original version of this hat swung its way halfway around the world to Denmark, to the wife of a dear friend I've known since he was 15 (and now that he's a father of two, I can't believe it's been this long!) and I didn't yet know how to knit. After I knit it and held onto it for a week or two, I kept coming back to it, thinking about how I could knit it again and again.

Use up scraps, buy some new yarn in two colors you love; pair two neutrals like I have, put a neutral with a pop of color or go super daring and just use brights - your options are so limitless it's a bit crazy!

This pattern is available for free download!

MATERIALS NEEDED:

• two skeins worsted weight acrylic yarn (I used Hobby Lobby's I Love This Yarn!), one each in two different colors
• one size US 10 / 5.5 mm 16" circular needle
• one set size US 10 / 5.5 mm dpns
• darning needle for weaving in ends

SIZE:
20" circumference un-stretched; will fit most adult heads.

GAUGE:
4 stitches x 5 rows = 1"

DIRECTIONS: 
With color A, cast on 80 stitches. Being careful not to twist stitches, join for working in the round.

Rows 1-10: With Color A, (k2, p2) around.
Rows 11-16: Changing to Color B, knit all stitches around.
Rows 17 - 22: Changing to Color A, knit all stitches around.
Rows 23 - 28: repeat rows 11 - 16.

Rows 29 - 34: repeat rows 17 - 22.
Rows 35 - 40: repeat rows 11 - 16.

At this point you should have one color stripe of ribbing, and five color stripes in stockinette.

DECREASES:
Using color B, work the following seven rows.
Row 1: knit all stitches.
Row 2: (k2, k2tog) around.
Row 3: knit all stitches.
Row 4: (k2tog, k1) around.
Row 5: knit all stitches.
Rows 6 and 7: k2tog all stitches.

Cut yarn, leaving a 12-18" tail. Turn hat inside out, and weave yarn tail through live stitches on the needles, pulling them off and tight to make the top of the hat. Weave in both ends (the end you are currently working with an the end from the brim of the hat. Turn the hat right-side out and you're done!!

This pattern is available for free download!