Jack-o-lanterns, Candy corn, Rockets and all that cool free loot we used to get at Halloween... and hoping The Great Pumpkin would finally visit Linus in the pumpkin patch. I was inspired by the spirit of my favorite holiday.

Using the traditional Shetland techniques and yarns, I created a hat that is offbeat, fun and colourful.

This is no ordinary Fair Isle Tam. Look closer, you'll see green worms, bats and skulls. It's a wonderful introduction to not-so-traditional colorwork. Go on, try it.  You're not afraid, are you?

SIZE
One size comfortably fits heads 20 to 24 inches in circumference.

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS
10.5 inches diameter across top, may be blocked slightly larger

MATERIALS
Yarn
Jamieson's Spindrift [100% Shetland Wool; 115yd/105m per 25g ball]
[MC] Black 999; 1 ball
[CC1] Natural 104, 1 ball
[CC2] Granite 122, 1 ball
[CC3] Chartreuse 365, 1 ball
[CC4] Amber 478, 1 ball
[CC5] Crimson 525, 1 ball
[CC6] Violet 600, 1 ball

Recommended needle size
[always use a needle size that gives you the gauge listed below -- every knitter's gauge is unique]
1 16 inch US #3/3.25mm circular needle
1 set US 3/3.25mm double-point needles
optional: 1 32 inch or longer US #3/3.25mm circular needle for magic loop method

Notions
Yarn needle
stitch marker
10.5 inch dinner plate for blocking

GAUGE
24 sts/32 rows = 4 inches in stranded stockinette stitch after blocking

PATTERN NOTES
[Knitty's list of standard abbreviations and techniques can be found here.]

S2KPO (Centered double decrease): Slip next 2 stitches together knitwise; knit next stitch and pass slipped stitches over stitch just knit.

I-Cord
First Row: Instead of turning work around to work back on the WS, slide all sts to other end of needle, switch needle back to your left hand, bring yarn around back of work, and start knitting the sts again.
Repeat this row to form I-cord. After a few rows, work will begin to form a tube.

Instructions for Duplicate Stitch can be found here.

Instructions for Cable Cast On can be found here.

Instructions for Backwards Loop m1 can be found here.

DIRECTIONS

Place marker and join for working in the round, being careful not to twist.

Ribbing round: [K1, p1] to end.
Repeat Ribbing round until piece measures 3.5 inches from cast-on edge.

Increase round: [K5, m1] to end of round. 168 sts.  Use the backwards loop M1 method.

Next round: Begin working Bat chart, working the 8-st repeat 21 times across round.

Continue until all 7 rounds of the chart are complete, joining and breaking off colors as indicated.

Knit 4 rounds in MC.
Increase round: [K14, m1] to end of round. 180 sts.  Use the backwards loop M1 method as before.

Next round: Begin working Border chart, working the 18-st repeat 10 times across round.
Continue until all 15 rounds of the chart are complete, joining and breaking off colors as indicated.

Knit 2 rounds in MC.
Decrease round: [K13, k2tog] to end. 168 sts.

Next round: Begin working Wheel chart, working the 24-st repeat 7 times across round. 

Note: Rounds 6, 9, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24 and 26 of the chart start with a double decrease.  To accommodate the decrease, you will need to end the previous round 1 stitch early, and move the start of round marker 1 stitch to the left at the end of that previous round. As the circumference of the hat gets too small to work comfortably on the circular needle, change to DPNs or magic loop method as you prefer.

Continue until all 27 rounds of the chart are complete, joining and breaking off colors as indicated.

After round 27 of the chart, 14 sts rem.
Decrease round 1: [K2tog] 7 times. 7 sts.
Decrease round 2: [K2tog] 3 times, k1.  4 sts.
Slip these 4 sts to a single DPN and work 8 rounds of I-cord.  Bind off.

FINISHING
Neatly weave in all ends on inside of hat.  Fold ribbing inwards, and using a tapestry needle and MC tack down neatly, to form a double band.  Wet the tam and roll in a towel to squeeze out excess moisture.  Block over a 10.5 inch dinner plate.  Allow to dry.

For extra creepiness, duplicate stitch with crimson over the eyes of the skulls.

Lorraine has been designing under the name Twisted Traditions since 2004.

She and her friend Jax love a good schlock movie. She lives in the burbs with her family and pets, including a few Bearded Dragons.