INTRODUCTION

Flywing

by Laura Barker

Flywing was born from a happy confluence of two things. First, I am a technique junkie, and motivated by a friend who requested that I design some more accessible patterns, I started experimenting with slipped stitches.

While this pattern looks complicated, it is just stripes with a few slipped stitches creating the dramatic impact. Since you only work with one color at a time, it is an ideal introduction to colorwork. Twice in each repeat, the beginning of round shifts to hide the dreaded jog. While that makes the pattern tangy, most of the work is pretty mellow. The crown decreases in pattern to a little star at the top.

For the second influence, in October, I went on a field trip to Neighborhood Fiber Co. The owner, Karida Collins, gave us a preview of the new yarn company she was launching with Ann Weaver: Plied Yarn Co. I knew immediately that I wanted to design with some of their cheerful colors; who couldn't use a little cheer right now?! So stitch patterns and inspiring new yarn came together in Flywing.

My daughter saw the first version and asked me how it would look with the colors reversed. Since the skeins have generous yardage, I decided to find out, and the result surprised me. The only differences between the two hats are the ribbing color and height. (The second hat probably could have been slouchy too, but I wasn't in the mood for yarn chicken.) If you look carefully, the hexagons are identical, but switching the MC and CC changes how you see the pattern. This was a happy accident, but there may be more experimentation with color theory in my future.

model: Kathleen & Martha Barker, sisters quarantining together

photos: John Thorne

SIZE

Adult S[L]

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS

Circumference:  20[22.5] inches/ 51[57] cm
Note: 
Choose a size with approximately 1-2 inches/2.5-5 cm negative ease.

Fitted Hat Height: 9.75 inches/25 cm
Slouchy Hat Height: 11 inches/28 cm

MATERIALS

Yarn
Plied Yarn Co. North Ave [100% wool; 215 yd per 50g skein];
Arch Social Club [MC fitted hat/CC slouchy hat]; 1 skein
Sauerkraut at Thanksgiving [CC fitted hat/MC slouchy hat]; 1 skein
Note: Fitted hat shown above left; Slouchy hat shown above right

Recommended needle size
[always use a needle size that gives you the gauge listed below - every knitter's gauge is unique]
US #2/2.75mm circular needle, 16 inch/40 cm
US #4/3.5mm circular needle, 16 inch/40 cm
US #4/3.5mm needles for small circumference in the round

Notions
stitch marker
yarn needle

GAUGE

22 sts/32 rounds = 4 inches/10 cm in stockinette stitch on larger needles
22 sts/43 rounds = 4 inches/10 cm in pattern stitch on larger needles

PATTERN NOTES

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

Flywing is knit in the round. Slipped stitches create the colorwork; only one color is worked at a time. Slip stitches purlwise with yarn in back. Do not break yarn at color changes. At color change, bring new color over color just used. To hide the color change behind slipped stitches, the beginning of round shifts in Round 6, and every 12 rounds thereafter.

Sl1p: Slip one st purlwise with yarn in back
Sl2p: Slip two sts purlwise with yarn in back

Main Pattern
Note: The chart may look a little odd. We’ve done it this way so you can see how the start of round shifts. On Rounds 6 and 18, the first repeat of the pattern is different, and the round works past the existing end of round. When working those, work to the start of round marker, remove it, work the 7 additional stitches (with both colors as instructed), and as noted replace the start of round marker at this point.

Round 1: With MC, [Sl2p, k2, RLI, k6, LLI, k2] around. 2 sts increased per repeat.
Round 2: With MC, Knit.
Rounds 3-5: With CC, [Sl2p, k12] around.
Round 6: With CC, Sl2p, (k1, sl1p) 2 times, k8, [sl2p, k12] to end of round; remove start of round marker, with MC, k2, with CC, (sl1p, k1) 2 times, sl1p. Replace start of round marker here.
Rounds 7-10: With MC, [Sl2p, k12] around.
Round 11: With CC, Knit.
Rounds 12-13: With CC, [Sl2p, k12] around.
Round 14: With CC, Knit.
Rounds 15-17: With MC, [Sl2p, k12] around.
Round 18: With MC, Sl2p, (k1, sl1p) 2 times, k8, [sl2p, k12] around; remove start of round marker, with CC, k2, with MC, (sl1p, k1) 2 times, sl1p. Replace start of round marker here.
Rounds 19-22: With CC, [Sl2p, k12] around.
Round 23: With MC, Knit.
Rounds 24-25: With MC, [Sl2p, k12] around.
Round 26: With MC, Knit.

Crown Pattern Fitted
Note: On rounds 5 and 17, you will work past the existing end of round. When working those, work to the start of round marker, remove it, work the additional stitches, and as noted replace the start of round marker at this point.

Round 1: With CC, K2, k2tog, k8, ssk. 12 sts.
Rounds 2-4: With MC, Sl2p, k10.
Round 5: With MC, Sl2p, (k1, sl1p) 2 times, k6, [sl2p, k10] around; remove start of round marker, with CC, k2, with MC, (sl1p, k1) 2 times. Replace start of round marker here.
Round 6: With CC, Sl2p, k2tog, k6, ssk. 10 sts.
Rounds 7-9: With CC, Sl2p, k8.
Round 10: With MC, Knit.
Round 11: With MC, Sl2p, k2tog, k4, ssk. 8 sts.
Round 12: With MC, Sl2p, k6.
Round 13: With MC, Knit.
Rounds 14-15: With CC, Sl2p, k6.
Round 16: With CC, Sl2p, k2tog, k2, ssk. 6 sts.
Round 17: With CC, Sl2p, k4; remove start of round marker, with MC, k2, sl1p. Replace start of round marker here.
Rounds 18-20: With MC, Sl2p, k4.
Round 21: With MC, Sl2p, k2tog, ssk. 4 sts.
Round 22: With CC, Knit.
Rounds 23-24: With CC, Sl2p, k2.
Round 25: With CC, K2tog, k2. 3 sts.
Round 26: With MC, Sl1p, k2tog. 2 sts.
Round 27: With MC, Sl1p, k1.
Round 28: With MC, K2tog. 1 st.

Crown Pattern Slouchy
Round 1: With MC, K2, k2tog, k8, ssk. 12 sts.
Rounds 2-4: With CC, Sl2p, k10.
Round 5: With CC, Sl2p, (k1, sl1p) 2 times, k6, [sl2p, k10] around; remove start of round marker, with MC, k2, with CC, (sl1p, k1) 2 times. Replace start of round marker here.
Round 6: With MC, Sl2p, k2tog, k6, ssk. 10 sts.
Rounds 7-9: With MC, Sl2p, k8.
Round 10: With CC, Knit.
Round 11: With CC, Sl2p, k2tog, k4, ssk. 8 sts.
Round 12: With CC, Sl2p, k6.
Round 13: With CC, Knit.
Rounds 14-15: With MC, Sl2p, k6.
Round 16: With MC, Sl2p, k2tog, k2, ssk. 6 sts.
Round 17: With MC, Sl2p, k4; remove start of round marker, with CC, k2, sl1p. Replace start of round marker here.
Rounds 18-20: With CC, Sl2p, k4.
Round 21: With CC, Sl2p, k2tog, ssk. 4 sts.
Round 22: With MC, Knit.
Rounds 23-24: With MC, Sl2p, k2.
Round 25: With MC, K2tog, k2. 3 sts.
Round 26: With CC, Sl1p, k2tog. 2 sts.
Round 27: With CC, Sl1p, k1.
Round 28: With CC, K2tog. 1 st.

CHARTS

Work from Chart or written instructions as you prefer.

DIRECTIONS

Brim and Body of Hat
With smaller circular needle, CO 96[108] sts. Place marker and join in the round.

Ribbing round: [K2, p2] around.

Work ribbing as set for 1.5 inches/4cm.

Change to larger circular needle.

Body round: Work Main Pattern 8[9] times around. 112[126] sts.
Work as set until you have completed Round 26.
Repeat Rounds 3-26 once more.
For Fitted Hat, work Rounds 3-13 one more time; for Slouchy Hat, work Rounds 3-25.

Crown - Fitted
Round 1: Work Crown Pattern Fitted 8[9] times around. 96[108] sts.
Work as set until you have completed the pattern. 8[9] sts rem.

Crown - Slouchy
Round 1: Work Crown Pattern Slouchy] 8(9) times around. 96[108] sts.
Work as set until you have completed the pattern. 8[9] sts rem.

FINISHING

Cut MC, leaving 12 inch/30 cm tail. Draw tail through remaining sts and pull tight to close hole at top of hat. Weave in ends. To block hat, first add a few drops of a non-residue soap for hand-knits to cold water. Completely submerge and soak for at least 20 minutes. Drain water, and gently squeeze out as much water as possible. Roll hat in towel and press to extract additional moisture. Place damp hat on blocking surface and pin, or inflate balloon inside hat. Allow to dry fully.

ABOUT THE DESIGNER

Laura is a life-long knitter and former engineer and math teacher who enjoys combining the best of her experience in her favorite career, knitting design and education. Her designs feature innovative construction with clear instruction. She is the author of Mitered Entrelac, Knitting Entrelac Around the Corner, and has published patterns with Knitty, Vogue, Malabrigo, Knitter’s Magazine, Knit Edge Magazine, and on Ravelry. Laura has taught at LYSs and yarn events in DC, MD, WV, GA, OH, NC, CT, CA, and is looking forward to adding PA later in 2020. She was founding VP of the Capitol Hill Knitting Guild.

Her work may also be found on Ravelry, Instagram, and Facebook as well as her website.

Pattern & images © 2020 Laura Barker.