221b hat: Knitty Winter 2012

by Sami Brooker

One evening I sat down in front of my TV and was struck with an urge to watch the shockingly popular BBC show based on the works of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle -- Sherlock. I devoured the first three episodes immediately. While waiting to borrow a copy of season 2 on DVD, I kept re-watching the first episodes and knitting away my time. Very late one night, while browsing through fanmade knits, it struck me. That quirky wallpaper with the big happy face needed to be knit. I looked for a pattern, but found none that I was satisfied with, so I made my own while crying my way through The Reichenbach Fall.

This quick-to-knit, bottom-up, stranded hat is based on the distinctive wallpaper in apartment 221B in BBC Sherlock. The pretty print is so classy and sharp, just like the charming human bag of quirk we've come to love. The embroidered smiley face -- no bullet holes included -- is a bold statement, but can be left out for a more demure hat for the shy Holmes-enthusiast, or as a gift for a non-fan. It makes a cozy last-minute present for any adult or older teen and of course any Sherlockian would absolutely adore it.

model: Samantha Brooker

photos: Amy Cordero


SIZE One

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS
Circumference: 23.5 inches
Height: 9.5 inches (7.25 inches with brim rolled up)

MATERIALS
Yarn
[MC] Cascade 220 Heathers [100% wool; 220 yd/200 m per 227g skein]; color: River Rock; 1 skein
[CC1] Cascade 220 Heathers [100% wool; 220 yd/200 m per 227g skein]; color: Chocolate; 1 skein
[CC2] Vanna's Choice [100% acrylic; 170 yd/156 m per 100g skein]; color: mustard; 1 skein -- Optional, see Pattern Notes

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 #8/5mm circular needle
1 set US #8/5mm circular needle for working the crown decrease: dpns, 1 long circular or 2 short circulars

Notions
Yarn needle
Stitch Marker

GAUGE

18sts/24 rounds = 4 inches in stranded colorwork

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

The Smiley Face is optional. If you do choose to embroider it onto the hat, only a small amount of the CC2 yarn required.

Directions for chain stitch, back stitch, working a French Knot.

Charts
The chart for this pattern is very large and fits on a letter-sized page.
Click here and print the resulting page.

DIRECTIONS
Brim
Using the 16-inch circular, CO 98 sts in MC and join in round, being careful not to twist. Place marker at beg of rnd.

Ribbing round: [K1, p1] around.

Repeat Ribbing round until brim measures 1.5 ins.

Knit 2 rounds.

Hat Body
Join CC1.
Body round: Work Chart 7 times to end of rnd.

Work until Chart is complete. As the sts decrease for the crown, you will want to change to needles for working a small circumference, as you prefer.

Break CC1 and MC and thread on needle. Pull both yarns through all sts and pull tight. FINISHING
Weave in all ends. Block.

For smiley face: Using photos as a guide, with CC2, embroider a circle in chain stitch, a smile shape in backstitch, then two French knots for eyes. Weave in ends.

ABOUT THE DESIGNER

Sami Brooker is a 15-year-old girl in her junior year of high school living in Southern California. She learned to knit from her mother in spring of 2011 and has been knitting more or less nonstop since then, devouring every bit of knitting knowledge she can find.

This is the first pattern she ever designed, but surely not the last. She hopes to pursue art history and textiles in college, focusing as much as possible on traditional knitting and cultural designs.