Trilobite - Knitty, Summer 2009

model: Nicole Tuttle, Tyler Mason

photos: Hannah Ingalls

by Hannah Ingalls

Living with a paleontologist has its perks, including an apartment littered with fossils. Some recent additions were a selection of trilobites in shale, collected last March in Oak Springs Summit, Nevada. Examining these, it occurred to me that the form of the trilobite in relief might make for a challenging cable project.

The resulting hat is worked from the brim up, and four cabled trilobite sections are worked vertically. The crown decreases follow the visual line created by the narrowing trilobite body, and hence won’t interfere with the pattern.

This quick and engaging project will make a great holiday gift for all your paleontologically-inclined loved ones.

SIZE

One [Will stretch to comfortably fit head sizes 20-24 inches.]

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS

Circumference of ribbed band: 18 inches after blocking
Height: 8 inches after blocking

MATERIALS

Cream/Brown Hat: Berroco Pure Merino Nuance [100% Merino wool; 92yd/84m per 50g ball]; color: #8630 Brulee; 2 balls

Green Hat: Malabrigo Merino Worsted [100% Merino wool; 216yd/198m per 100g skein]; color: #117 Verde Adriana; 1 skein

Recommended needle size:
1 set US #6/4mm double-point needles
1 16-inch US #6/4mm circular needle

Cable needle
4 stitch markers – be sure that one is different from the others.
Yarn needle

GAUGE

20 sts/28 rows = 4 inches in stockinette st after blocking

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

Chart: The chart for this pattern fits on a letter-sized page. Click here and print.

1x1 Rib (Worked in the round over an even number of sts):
All rounds: [K1, p1] to end.

C2B: Sl 1 to cable needle and hold to back of work, k1 from left needle, k1 from cable needle.

C2F: Sl 1 to cable needle and hold to front of work, k1 from left needle, k1 from cable needle.

C2BP: Sl 1 to cable needle and hold to back of work, k1 from left needle, p1 from cable needle.

C2FP: Sl 1 to cable needle and hold to front of work, p1 from left needle, k1 from cable needle.

C3BP: Sl 2 to cable needle and hold to back of work, k1 from left needle, p2 from cable needle.

C3FP: Sl 1 to cable needle and hold to front of work, p2 from left needle, k1 from cable needle.

k3tog: Knit 3 together. 2 sts decreased.

Make bobble: Knit into front, then back, then front again, of next st: 1 st increased to 3 sts. Turn work, p3. Turn work, k3tog.

m1p: Make 1 purl stitch: Insert left needle, from back to front, under strand of yarn which runs between last stitch on left needle and first stitch on right needle; purl this stitch. 1 st increased (stitch will be twisted).

p2tog tbl: Purl 2 together through back loops. 1 st decreased.

sk2p: Sl 1 knitwise, k2tog, pass slipped st over. 2 sts decreased.

DIRECTIONS

Using circular needle, CO 104 sts. Place marker and join to begin working in the round, being careful not to twist. Use the stitch marker which is different from the others.

Work 10 rounds in 1x1 Rib.

K 2 rounds.

Next Round: [K26, place marker] three times, k26.

Work Rounds 1-47 of chart, swtching to double-point needles when necessary.

When Round 4 is complete, there will be 108 sts.

When all rounds are complete, 20 sts remain.

Next Round: [K2tog, ssk] five times. 10 sts.

Break yarn, leaving a tail approx. 6 inches long. Draw tail through all sts and pull tight.

FINISHING
Weave in ends. Block lightly.

ABOUT THE DESIGNER

Hannah Ingalls lives in Chicago with her scientist boyfriend and an angora rabbit named Ruth. She quit her office job in 2008, and is now unemployed full-time.

She can be found intermittently blogging here.