Moss Stitch Sashed Hat

This makes a woman's beanie type hat (20" in circumference unstretched) and an optional sash (Ravel it to see the picture of me wearing it with a sash).

Required skills: knitting in the round, decreasing.


yarn:

I used 2.5 balls of KnitPicks Main Line, an aran weight cotton/wool blend. You could probably get similar results with another aran or worsted weight cotton.

gauge:

5 st/in in garter stitch in the round (size 5 needles)

5 st/in in moss stitch in the round (size 9 needles)

8.5 st/in k1p1 rib flat (size 5 needles)

Do be sure to knit gauge swatches and adjust your needle size to get this hat to fit and drape like it should. Cotton yarns respond uniquely to heat, moisture and wear, so be sure to wash and dry your swatch to give you an idea of how it will behave when you try to clean it.

Stitches:

• garter stitch
  k every stitch on straight needles (alternate rows of k and p on circular needles)
  
• k1p1 rib
  (even # of stitches)
  all rows: *k1, p1, repeat from * to end of row.
  
• moss stitch
  (even # of stitches)
  row 1 and row 2: *k1, p1, repeat from * to end of row.
  row 3 and row 4: *p1, k1, repeat from * to end of row.
  Repeat rows 1-4.
  
  
• decrease stitches
  P2tog: insert the right hand needle into the first two stitches on the left needle as if they were one stitch and purl them together.
  K2tog: insert the right hand needle into the first two stitches on the left needle as if they were one stitch and knit them together.
  

Pattern:

• brim
  

  Cast 96 stitches onto size 5 DPNs or circular needle. Place a stitch marker at the beginning of the row. Knit 1.5 inches in garter stitch.
  

• body
  

  Switch to size 9 needles and knit in moss stitch until hat measures 6" in total length (adjust for shrinkage here).
  

• crown shaping
  

  The decreases will look different depending on where in the moss stitch pattern you place them. I start on a row that should begin with a k stitch, coming right after a row that began with a p stitch, and place my decreases so that I don't disrupt the moss stitch pattern.
  
  Row 1: *P2tog. [k1 p1] 7 times. Repeat from * to end of row.
  Row 3: *P2tog. [k1 p1] 6 times. Repeat from * to end of row.
  Row 5: *P2tog. [k1 p1] 5 times. Repeat from * to end of row
  Row 7: *P2tog. [k1 p1] 4 times. Repeat from * to end of row
  Row 2, 4, 6, 8: [p1 k1] to end of row (90, 84, 78, 72 st)
  Row 9: *P2tog. [k1 p1] twice. Repeat from * to end of row.
  Row 10: *p1 k1 p1 k1 p1. Repeat from * to end of row (60 st).
  Row 11: *P2tog. k1 p1 k1. Repeat from * to end of row.
  Row 12: p1 k1 to end of row (48 st).
  Row 13: *P2tog. k1 p1. Repeat from * to end of row.
  Row 14: *p1 k1 p1. Repeat from * to end of row (36 st).
  Row 15: *P2tog. k1. Repeat from * to end of row.
  Row 16. p1 k1 to end of row. (24 st)
  Row 17. P2tog to end of row (12 st)
  Row 18. K2tog to end of row (6 st)
  Bind off.
  
  a diagram of the decreases:
  
  

  
   p2t k p k p k p k p k p k p k p
     p k p k p k p k p k p k p k p
     p2t k p k p k p k p k p k p k  
       p k p k p k p k p k p k p k
       p2t k p k p k p k p k p k p
         p k p k p k p k p k p k p
         p2t k p k p k p k p k p k
           p k p k p k p k p k p k
           p2t k p k p p2t k p k p
             p k p k p   p k p k p
             p2t k p k   p2t k p k
               p k p k     p k p k
               p2t k p     p2t k p
                 p k p       p k p
                 p2t k       p2t k
                   p k         p k
                   p2t         p2t
                        k2t
  

  
  
  
• sash
  

  Cast on 14 stitches on size 5 needles. Knit k1, p1 ribbing, slipping the first stitch of every row, until sash measures 36". Bind off.