Knitted Fashion

Gorgeous hats

Mother Earth Beret with Sunflower Brooch Knitted in the round / Level: Easy

This pattern from my book, Hats to Knit, is especially good for people who are getting used to knitting in the round because it uses basic knit and purl stitches to form rib and garter stitch sections. And, because this hat uses a chunky yarn and large needles, it knits up very quickly. I have used a wool/alpaca/ acrylic mix, but you could use a plain yarn which would highlight the stitch structure. Finished measurement This hat pattern is provided in three sizes — small (48 cm), medium (53 cm) and large (58.5 cm). Needles US 11 (8 mm) set of double-pointed needles

Yarn Wool/acrylic blend (bulky), approx. 2 x 50 gram skeins Tension or gauge On US 11 (8 mm) needles, knit one purl one rib, 5 stitches x 8 rows = 4 cm, adjust needle size as necessary

Cast on 45 (54, 60) stitches loosely using US 11 (8 mm) double-pointed needles:

Working on these stitches, knit in the round. Do not turn the needles, just keep going in the same direction, working on the right side of the work.

Place a row marker, if using, at the end of the first round.

Round 1: *k1, p1*, repeat from *to* to the end of the row

Round 2: *k1b, p1*, repeat from *to* to the end of the row

Repeat rounds 1 and 2 8 more times, or until work measures 1¾ in (4.5 cm)

Start increasing for body of hat and change pattern:

Round 3 (increase): *k4 (k5, k5), kfb*, repeat from *to* to the end of the round (54, 63, 70 stitches) Round 4: purl Round 5 (increase): *k8 (k6, k6), kfb*, repeat from *to* to the end of the round (60, 72, 80 stitches) Round 6: purl Round 7: knit Round 8: purl Round 9: *k1, p1*, repeat from *to* to the end of the round Round 10: as round 7 Round 11: as round 7 Round 12 (decrease): *k4 (k6, k6), k2tog*, repeat from *to* to the end of the round (50, 63, 70 stitches) Round 13: purl Round 14 (decrease): *k8 (k5, k5), k2tog*, repeat from *to* to the end of the round (45, 54, 60 stitches)

Round 15: purl

Round 16 (decrease): *k3 (k4, k3), k2tog*, repeat from *to* to the end of the round (36 (45, 48) stitches)

Round 17: *k1, p1*, repeat from *to* to the end of the round Round 18: as round 17

Round 19 (decrease): *k4 (k3, k4), k2tog*, repeat from *to* to the end of the round (30, 36, 40 stitches) Round 20: purl Round 21 (decrease): *k4 (k4, k6), k2tog*, repeat from *to* to the end of the round (25, 30, 35 stitches) Round 22: purl Round 23 (decrease): *k3 (k4, k5), k2tog*, repeat from *to* to the end of the round (20, 25, 30 stitches) Round 24: purl Round 25 (decrease): *k3 (k3, k3), k2tog*, repeat from *to* to the end of the round (16, 20, 24 stitches) Round 26: purl Round 27 (decrease): k2tog, repeat to the end of the round (8, 10, 12 stitches)

Large size only: Round 28: k2tog, repeat to the end of the round (6 stitches)

Break off yarn, leaving 20–30 cm tail. Using a darning needle, draw tail through remaining stitches and pull tight. Feed through to the wrong side and tie off. Sew through the centre a few times, ensuring no gaps remain. Tie off and weave end of yarn into stitches on the wrong side.

Sunflower Brooch Knitted / Level: Easy

This cheery sunflower uses the same chunky yarn that was used for the beret, and tapestry wool in bright yellow and mustard to create the sunflower’s petals. Needles US 6 (4 mm) double-pointed needles (two) Yarn 5 grams chunky yarn, 3 skeins of tapestry wool 8 metres: two bright yellow, one mustard color Notions Large brooch clasp To make centre cast on 20 stitches loosely using US 6 (4 mm) needles: Row 1: *k1, p1*, repeat from *to* to the end of the row Row 2: *p1, k1*, repeat from *to* to the end of the row Row 3: *k1, p1*, repeat from *to* to the end of the row Row 4: *p1, k1*, repeat from *to* to the end of the row Row 5 (decrease): k2tog, repeat to the end of the row (10 stitches) Break off yarn, leaving a 20 cm tail. Using a darning needle, pull this tail through all remaining stitches on needles. Pull tight and tie off on the right side. This makes the knobbly front side. Sew up the side edges to make a circle. It will not lay completely flat, but that’s okay; the roundness gives the centre some shape.

To make the outer petals, start working on the back of the circle: Join the mustard colored tapestry yarn to the back loop of the cast on row. Step 1 (mustard): knit 1 Step 2 (mustard): cast on 7 stitches Step 3 (mustard): turn and cast off 7 stitches knitwise Step 4 (yellow): join bright yellow yarn into the next loop Step 5 (yellow): knit 1 stitch into the same loop Step 6 (mustard): cast off mustard stitch Keep working around the circle making 20 petals this way by following steps 1 through 6, alternating the colours as you go.

Cast off final stitch.

To make the inner petals, work on the front of the circle: Join the bright yellow tapestry yarn to the front loop of the cast on row. Step 1: knit 1 Step 2: cast on 4 stitches Step 3: turn and cast off 4 stitches knitwise Step 5: knit 1 stitch into the next loop Step 6: cast off first stitch Keep working around the circle making 20 petals this way by following steps 1 through 6. Cast off final stitch.

To finish: Weave in loose ends on the wrong side and sew the clasp onto middle of the back of the flower.

Glossary

kfb: Knit into the front and back of the same stitch (to increase) k1b: Knit into loop of row below k2tog: Knit two stitches together (to decrease 1)

This pattern is from Hats to Knit by Gillian Whalley-Torckler, Bateman Publishing, $35