Rock Creek hat: Knitty Winter 2011

by Nichole Reese

Rock Creek flows out into the Columbia River near a small town in the Gorge along the Oregon side.

In the spring you can see salmon making their way up the creek to lay their eggs.

In the summer, the mouth of Rock Creek is a place for windsurfers to launch their gear and zip back and forth across the great Columbia.

In the fall & winter it is a quiet place where water and rocks rest with each other.

The hat is loose fitting and has a simple and fun cable with a contrast color that moves around the hat as you knit it. The edge of the hat has a slight scallop, which is formed by starting the cables right off the bat without any stitch count changes or ribbing. After finishing this hat, I was reminded of this amazing place and the movement of the water and the constant presence of the rocks.

model: Nichole Reese & Christine Vogt at Rock Creek

photos: M. Reese

SIZE
Adult S[M]
(shown in size S with MC- Thyme, shown in size M with MC-Truffle)
Sized to fit head circumference of 20-21[22-23] inches

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS
Hat Circumference: 22[24] inches
Hat Height: 7.5[8.0] inches

MATERIALS
Yarn
[MC] Mirasol Sulka [60% merino wool, 20% alpaca, 20% silk; 55 yd/50 m per 50g skein]; color: #212 Thyme[#206 Truffle]; 2 [3] skeins
[CC] Mirasol Sulka [60% merino wool, 20% alpaca, 20% silk; 55 yd/50 m per 50g skein]; color: #209 Sage[#204 Cocoa]; 1[1] skein

Recommended needle size
[always use a needle size that gives you the gauge listed below -- every knitter's gauge is unique]
1 set US #10.5/6.5mm double-point needles
1 16-inch US #10.5/6.5mm circular needle

Notions
yarn needle
cable needle
stitch marker

GAUGE

14 sts/19 rows = 4 inches in stockinette stitch
20 sts/20 rows = 4 inches in pattern stitch

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

Once lower edge is complete, only MC is used for actual knitting; CC is stranded back and forth for a decorative effect.

When moving CC to front on Rounds 1 and 2 of Cable St Pattern, bring CC between the 2 needles to the front. When moving CC to back, bring CC between the 2 needles to the back. Make sure not to pull the yarn too tight, leaving enough slack in the yarn to keep fabric from puckering.

As you work, carry CC loosely up the inside of the hat.

Cable St Pattern:
Rnd 1: With MC, [k4, p4] to end of rnd.
Rnd 2: With MC, [k4, p4] to end of rnd.
Rnd 3: With MC, k.
Rnd 4: [With MC, C4F, move CC to front, with MC k4, move CC to back] to end of rnd.
Rnd 5: [With MC, k4, move CC to front, with MC k4, move CC to back] to end of rnd.

C4F: Slip next 2 sts to cn and hold to front; k2, then k2 from cn.

DIRECTIONS
Main Hat
With 16-inch circular needle & CC, CO 88[96] sts. Join in the rnd being careful not to twist, and pm to denote beg of rnd.

Round 1: P. Join MC (do not cut CC).
Round 2: With MC, k.
Round 3: With MC, [C4F, p4] to end of rnd.
Round 4: With MC, [k4, p4] to end of rnd.

Work Cable St Pattern 4[5] times, and work Rnds 1-3 once more.
Piece should measure about 5.5[6.5] inches from CO edge.

Crown Shaping:
Note: As you’re working this section, change to dpns when hat gets too small to work comfortably on circular needle.

Rnd 1: [With MC, C4F, move CC to front, with MC k1, k2tog, k1, move CC to back] to end of rnd. 77[84] sts remain.
Rnd 2: [With MC, k4, move CC to front, with MC k3, move CC to back] to end of rnd.
Rnd 3: With MC [k4, p3] to end of rnd
Rnd 4: With MC [k4, p1, p2tog] to end of rnd. 66[72] sts remain.
Rnd 5: With MC, k.
Rnd 6: [With MC, C4F, move CC to front, with MC k2tog, move CC to back] to end of rnd. 55[60] sts remain.
Rnd 7: [With MC, k4, move CC to front, with MC k1, move CC to back] to end of rnd.
Rnd 8: With MC, [k1, k2tog, k1, p1] to end of rnd. 44[48] sts remain.
Rnd 9: With MC [k1, k2tog, p1] to end of rnd. 33[36] sts remain.
Rnd 10: With MC [k2tog, p1] to end of rnd. 22[24]sts remain.
Rnd 11: With MC k2tog around. 11[12] sts remain.

FINISHING
Break yarn leaving an 8-inch tail. Pull tail through remaining sts tightly and sew inside of hat closed. Weave in all ends.

ABOUT THE DESIGNER

Nichole Reese designs for her company, bluegirl knits as well as other publications. She also teaches at her LYS, Knot Another Hat in the beautiful Columbia River Gorge in Oregon. Nichole is an accountant, who loves applying her skills in math and efficiency to her designs.

You can check out her other patterns at bluegirlknits.com and keep up with her knitting on her blog.