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I've been fascinated for years by an item in the De Young Museum's textile collection: a cubic hat with silly corner boings. It was knit in Peru in the 19th century, most likely from handspun alpaca, in a very fine and tight fabric. It's not likely I'd ever do anything that authentic in scale but I thought that it'd be fun with bulky yarn, and it turns out it can be whipped out in a flash.

It's a natural for a silly baby hat, the kind that gives the kid the idea that the world is full of friendly people because everyone they meet on the street is cracking up.

I worked up this version in 'authentic' colors -- dark brown and a print of purpley cochenille reds. I added some traditional color stranded designs for the adult version, which are entirely optional. Our first version was a plain brown, and had to be redone for Knitty because it crossed the continent in its first week of life, attached permanently to a visiting friend who loved it unadorned.

model: A. Non photos: Marie-Christine Mahe

SIZE
Newborn [Child, Adult]
 
FINISHED MEASUREMENTS

Head Circumference: 13[19, 22] inches
Depth: 3.5[4.5, 5.5] inches

 

MATERIALS

[MC] Crystal Palace Iceland [100% Merino Wool; 110yd/99m per 100g skein]; color #3433; 1 skein
[CC] Crystal Palace Iceland [100% Merino Wool; 110yd/99m per 100g skein]; color #7254; 1 skein
NOTE: One skein of yarn will make one hat in any size, without colorwork pattern. One ball in each color will make one Adult hat with colorwork pattern, and one Newborn hat without, in [CC].

1 set US #10.5/6.5mm double-point needles
Stitch marker
Yarn needle

GAUGE

10 sts /14 rows = 4" in stockinette stitch

 
PATTERN NOTES

[Knitty's list of standard abbreviations can be found here]

When working I-cord, the work is never turned and worked from the wrong side, as it is in most knitting. After knitting one row, the sts will be sitting at the left end of your right needle. To work the next row, simply slide the sts to the opposite end of the dpn, switch the dpn to your left hand, bring the yarn around the back of the work, pull tightly, and work the sts again as directed.

When working a charted color pattern in this yarn, it is unnecessary to carry the CC yarn to the edge of each row. Simply pick up the CC yarn where it is needed in each row, allowing loose floats to form at the back of the work. After the hat has been worn a few times, the floats will not move.

 
DIRECTIONS

PLAIN HAT
Square Crown

Using knitted CO, CO 8[12, 14] sts.
Row 1 [RS]: Sl1, k to last st, p1.
Row 2 [WS]: Sl1, p to end.
Cont in st st as set until 10[16, 18] rows have been worked.

Hat Body
K across sts on needle, pick up and k 8[12, 14] sts along side of square crown (approx. 3 sts picked up for every 4 rows worked), pick up and k 1 st in each CO st along CO edge of square crown, pick up and k 8[12, 14] sts along rem side of square crown. 32[48, 56] sts on needle(s).
Cont in stockinette st and working in the round, work even until work measures 3[4, 5] inches from crown.

Work I-cord BO
CO 3 sts onto the left needle.
*K the first 2 if these sts, k third st tog with next st to be worked from hat body -- 3 sts on right needle, 1 st bound off. Slide these 3 sts to opposite end of needle, switch needle to opposite hand, and rep from * until all hat body sts have been bound off. Sew or weave ends of I-cord together. Proceed to section marked "All Hats".

ADULT HAT WITH COLOR PATTERN
Square Crown
Using MC and knitted CO, CO 15 sts.
Work 18 rows of Peruvian Bird chart, slipping edge sts as for Plain Hat. Break CC yarn. Work 1 row plain -- 19 rows worked.

Hat Body
K across sts on needle, pick up and k 15 sts along side of square crown (approx. 3 sts picked up for every 4 rows worked), pick up and k 1 st in each CO st along CO edge of square crown, pick up and k 15 sts along rem side of square crown. 60 sts on needle(s).
Cont in stockinette st and working in the round, work even until piece measures 3 inches from crown.
Next Rnd: [K8, k2tog] around. 54 sts rem.
Work border from Peruvian Border chart. Break CC yarn, and cont in stockinette st until work measures 5 inches from crown. Work I-cord BO as for Plain Hats. Proceed to section marked "All Hats".

ALL HATS
Corner Boings
Corner boings are short lengths of I-cord, worked in clusters at each corner of the square crown of the hat.
To work one, pick up and k 3 sts on or near a corner of the hat. *Slide the sts to the other end of the dpn, switch the needle to your other hand, bring yarn around back of work, pull tightly, k all sts. Repeat from * until boing is desired length -- 1 to 1.5 inches. Break yarn, thread through all sts, pull tight.
Work 2 or 3 at each corner.

Peruvian bird
Peruvian border

 

FINISHING

Weave in ends at base of each boing using it to help secure I-cord more firmly to hat. Weave in end at tip of "boing" or leave it loose, as desired. (Weave in ALL ends on baby hat, to prevent babies chewing on and swallowing pieces of yarn.)

ABOUT THE DESIGNER

Marie-Christine's grandmother tried to teach her to knit at an early age "to shut her up". This didn't work very well on either count, but Marie-Christine took it up again later with enthusiasm.

She started her knitting designer career with a bang, with the Vegan Fox in knitty.com's inaugural issue. She has gone on with an assortment of motley designs in the same vein at fuzzygalore.biz