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A Cheery Hand-Knit Cap

A Cheery Hand-Knit Cap

January feels especially long this year, so we asked Carton Blanche favorite and veteran knitter Sunday Holm to come up with a simple hat for everyone to knit. She conjured up the perfect cap using a yarn that somehow manages to be warm, soft and light at the same time. There are two brim options: a classic rib or a baby cable version for more advanced knitters. We recommend using a color that will fortify you through the season.

Skill Level: Advanced Beginner

Supplies:
  • Size 7 - 16” Double Pointed Needles
  • Size 7 - 16” Circular Needle - If you wish to knit this with a 16” Circular Needle, you will need to transition to Double Pointed Needles when decreasing for the Crown.
  • 100 gram skein of Worsted Weight Yarn
  • 1 Marker
  • Tapestry Needle


Sizes: Adult Small, Adult M/L 

Cast on 84 (96 for M/L) stitches. Place a marker. Join, being careful not to twist.

Knitting in the round, Knit 2, Purl 2 around.
Continue in K2 P2 ribbing, until work measures 5 ½ .“

Knit body of cap in stockinette (Knit every round), until cap measures 10” from beginning of work.

Crown:

*Knit 10, k2tog; repeat from * to end of round
Knit two rounds.
*Knit 9, k2tog; rep from *
Knit one round.
*Knit 8, k2tog; rep from *
Knit one round.
*Knit 7, k2tog; rep from *
Knit one round.
*Knit 6, k2tog; rep from *
Knit one round.
*Knit 5, k2tog; rep from *
Knit one round.
*Knit 4, k2tog; rep from *
Knit one round.
*Knit 3, k2tog; rep from *
Knit one round.
Knit 2, k2tog; rep from *
Knit one round.
Knit 1, k2tog; rep from *
Knit 2tog

Cut yarn, leaving approximately a 6" tail. Thread onto a tapestry needle. Run the needle through the live stitches and pull tight. Weave in the ends.

Baby Cable Brim Option:

Using a Size 7 -16" Circular Needle, or Size 7 Double Pointed Needles, Cast on 84 (96 for M/L) stitches. Place a marker. Join, being careful not to twist.

Round 1) *K2, P2; repeat from *
Round 2) *K2, P2; repeat from *
Round 3) *K2 together, but don’t slip off the needle yet. Knit the 1 stitch of these two stitches, then slip both off the left needle. P2; repeat from *
Round 4) *K2, P2; repeat from *

Repeat these four rounds until the work measures 4” (5” for M/L).

You want the Cable Brim to face out when you turn up the brim. So, you need to turn the work inside out so the Wrong Side of the work is facing you. To do this, turn the piece inside out while it is still on your needle. Then you will just continue on in stockinette. After you turn it inside out, the first stitch that you knit will be the last that you just knit. So, just keep knitting normally, even though you will have a little hole. You can close this up later while weaving in your ends, or you can just ignore it!

Then proceed as for Plain Watch Cap above for Crown decreasing.

Notes:

  • Malabrigo worsted weight yarn (100 grams) was used for both hats which is a 100% Superwash Merino Wool. Rios/Cereza was used in the red cap with classic ribbing and Hollyhock was used in the smaller hat with the baby cable.
  • Other yarns that would work well are Madelinetosh or FÅR by Woolfolk. A cashmere worsted weight would also work if you would like to make it even softer. 
  • If you have any questions please email support@cartonblanche.com and we will do our best to help.


Sunday Holm is a knitting teacher, knitwear designer, and the author of Elizabeth Zimmerman’s Green Sweater Pattern. When she is not knitting, she is thinking about knitting. Her Ravelry name is Somuchyarn.