Countdown to Knitmas: Day 24

Happy Christmas Eve!!! Time to BO and wrap it up. Of course, you had that all done days ago. Now you can cast on something fun to ring in the new year next week.

As usual, I have improvised a few hats this year and I would like to share my most recent one with you here. You could cast it on today (Lois will be in the store until 2pm). or on the 26th when we resume our usual hours. This hat pattern was whipped up for my husband to gift to a coworker. I started the blue one while we were watching the Hobbit on Wednesday night. With the unknitting time (a side effect of theater knitting) figured in, the hat took about 5 hours. With smoother sailing and not having to drop and correct some purls that had shifted during my ribbing, I think that a speedy knitter could knock it out in about 4 hours. (You know, just in case you need one more gift today.)

Yarn: approx 150 g of Sport weight yarn; I used Mirasol Nuna and had about 12 g left over
Needle: US 5/3.5mm 16" circular and matching DPNs
Gauge: approx. 20 sts=4 inches

CO 100 sts. and join in the round. Double check that you have no twist and place a beginning of the round marker.

Rnd 1-9: *k2, p2, repeat from * around.

Rnd 10: *k10, m1, repeat from * around. (110 sts)

Rnd 11: knit
Repeat round 11 until your hat reaches the desired length. To achieve this slouch, I worked about 48 rounds (I would give you a measurement, but I gave the hats away without measuring).

Decreases:
Rnd 1: *k9, k2tog, repeat from * around. (100 sts)
Rnd 2: knit
Rnd 3: *k8, k2tog, repeat from * around. (90 sts)
Rnd 4: knit
Rnd 5: *k7, k2tog, repeat from * around.(80 sts)
Rnd 6: knit
Rnd 7: *k6, k2tog, repeat from * around. (70 sts)
Rnd 8: knit
Rnd 9: *k5, k2tog, repeat from * around. (60 sts)
Rnd 10: knit
Rnd 11: *k4, k2tog, repeat from * around. (50 sts)
Rnd 12: *k3, k2tog, repeat from * around. (40 sts)
Rnd 13: *k2, k2tog, repeat from * around. (30 sts)
Rnd 14: *k1, k2tog, repeat from * around. (20 sts)
Rnd 15: *k2tog, repeat from * around. (10 sts)

Cut the tail. Thread a tapestry needle and feed the remaining 10 sts. onto the strand like beads on a string. Pull it tight like closing a drawstring. Tuck the end to the wrong side and weave in ends.

Happy Needling,
Anne