Flamin

Flamin', a free knitting pattern from Knitty.com.

INTRODUCTION

Flamin'

beauty shot

by

Tangy

 

Keeping a warm noggin is important in the northlands.

This hat incorporates Fireflowers to add that extra bit of heat (Barbara Walker's A Second Treasury of Knitting Patterns). The Fireflowers may look difficult but are worked with only one color each round; and they only require 30 yards/metres of contrast yarn, so it can be a great way to use that favorite colorful hand-dyed yarn. Or use neon colors to make those flowers flaming hot! The hat works up warmly and quickly in a bulky weight yarn.

spacer model: S Katie Ercolani, L Colin Jarvis

spacer photos: A. Jarvis, W. Robiner

SIZE

Adult S[L]
NOTE: choose a size with 1-3 inches/2.5-7 cm negative ease in circumference

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS

Circumference:  18.5[20.5] inches/ 47[52] cm
Height:  8.5[9.5] inches/ 22[24] cm - adjustable

MATERIALS

Yarn Blue (shown in size S above):
Malabrigo Yarn Chunky [100% merino; 104 yd/95 m per 100g];
spacer [MC] Color #150 Azul Profundo; 1 skein
spacer [CC] Color #866 Arco Iris; approximately 30 y/27 m
spacer Pom Pom: Toft, Color Camel

Yarn Burgundy (shown in size L below):
spacer [MC] Cascade Yarns 128 Superwash [100% merino; 128 y/117 m per 100g]; color #855 Burgundy; 1 skein
spacer [CC] Malabrigo Yarn Mecha [100% Merino; 130 yd/119 m per 100g]; color #850 Archangel; approx 33 y/30 m

Yarn Multi-color with glow-in-the-dark flowers (shown at the beginning of DIRECTIONS in size S ):
spacer [MC] Spincycle Yarns Plump [100% Merino; 100.0 yards /91.4 meters]; color Afternoon Delight; 1 skein
spacer [CC] Lion Brand DIY Glow [100% Polyester; 71 y/65 m per 50g]; color Off-White; 1 skein, using 2 strands twisted together – see Pattern Notes
spacer Pom Pom: made with approx equal lengths of MC and CC, approx 25 g and 10 g

Yarn Multi-color with neon flowers (shown at end of DIRECTIONS in size S):
spacer [MC] Spincycle Yarns Plump [100% wool; 100 yd/91 m]; color Vibe Check 1 skein
spacer [CC] Yarn Snob A Blissful Bulky [100% Merino; 106 yd/97 m per 100g]; Color BeNeon; approx 30 y/27 m
spacer Pom Pom: Schildkraut Fur Large Pom Pom, Color Lime


Yarn Characteristics
spacer MC yarns were bulky 100% wool in superwash yarns and lightly springy. Smoother yarns work best for the CC so the Fireflower petals can adjust to an attractive shape. It is possible to substitute two strands of worsted-weight yarns but you will need to twist/ply them together so they don't separate as you're working. I chose to do this so that I could take advantage of the fun glow-in-the-dark Lion Brand Yarn. See Pattern Notes for more details.


Recommended needle size
[always use a needle size that gives you the gauge listed below - every knitter's gauge is unique]
spacer US #10.5/6.5 mm 16 inch/40 cm circular needle
spacer US #10.5/6.5 mm needles for small circumference in the round, for the crown decrease
spacer US #9/5.5 mm 16 inch/40 cm circular needle
Note: If using a tubular cast on, you will need an extra needle, see instructions for the particular cast-on method

Notions
spacer stitch marker
spacer optional pom-pom
spacer yarn needle

GAUGE

14 sts/24 rounds = 4 inches/10 cm in stockinette stitch with MC yarn using the larger size needle
16 sts/30 rounds = 4 inches/10 cm in Fireflower pattern stitch using the larger size needle

PATTERN NOTES

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

If you're working with worsted weight yarn for the CC, you need to twist/ply two strands together. You'll need about 11 yards/10 m of twisted yarn for each time you work the pattern rounds. If you're a spinner, use your preferred plying method. If you're not a spinner, follow this tutorial for creating a twisted cord, using a hand-mixer. A device like this can also make the process easier.

Choose highly contrasting colors to make the flowers stand out. Two solid colors, or one variegated and one solid color work best. Two variegated colors may appear too "busy" and the flowers lose their visual definition.

The pattern uses only one color per round. The number of stitches on the needles increase greatly in rounds 2 & 3, and are decreased to the original number over the next few rounds. The added stitches are slipped and subsequently carried up over several rounds so they add minimally to the hat circumference.

Maintain your usual tension on the working yarn when slipping multiple stitches in rounds 4-7. This will draw the slipped stitches somewhat together. Do not float the yarn loosely as you would for stranded knitting, nor pull the yarn tightly.

There is a rapid decrease at the top for a slightly gathered look.

Slipped sts are always slipped as if to purl with the yarn held in back.

CDD: centered double decrease. Slip 2 st together as if to knit, k1, then pass the 2 slipped st over the K st (2 st dec).

(K1, yo, k1, yo, k1): Increases 1 stitch to 5. Knit into the st but leave it on the left needle, make a yarnover, knit into the st and again leave it on the left needle, make a yarnover, and knit into the st again this time removing it from the left needle.

W2K: insert the needle into the next stitch as if to knit, wrap the yarn around the needle twice, then pull both loops through the st. One of the wraps is dropped in the next round to create an elongated loop.

Techniques:

  • Stretchy cast ons:
  • CHARTS


    Fireflower Pattern

    Round 1, with MC: [P3, k1 tbl] around.
    Round 2, with CC: [K1, (k1, yo, k1, yo, k1) in the same st, k1, sl1] around. 8 sts per repeat. 128[144] sts
    Round 3, with CC: [P1, W2K for the next 5 sts, p1, sl1] around.
    Round 4, with MC: [K1, sl5 dropping the extra wrap for each st, k2] around.
    Round 5: [P1, sl5, p2] around.
    Round 6: [K2tog, sl3, ssk, k1] around. 6 sts per repeat. 96[108] sts.
    Round 7: [K1, sl3, k1, p1] around.
    Round 8: [K2tog, sl1, ssk, k1] around. 4 sts per repeat. 64[72] sts.
    Round 9: [K1, sl1, k1, p1] around.
    Round 10: [K1, k1 tbl, k2] around.
    After round 10: remove marker, k1, sl1, replace marker.

    DIRECTIONS

    Hat
    Using smaller circular needle MC, CO 64[72] stitches using any stretchy method. Place marker and join for working in the round being careful not to twist.

    Rib Band
    Ribbing round: [P1, k1] around.

    Work ribbing as set until the hat measures 1.75[2] inches/ 4[5] cm from the CO edge.

    Main hat
    Change to the larger needle size and begin Fireflower pattern, joining CC for Round 2 and cutting it after Round 3 each time, working from chart or written instructions as you prefer.

    Work Rounds 1-10 three times, moving the marker as noted after the second repeat (round 20) but not after the third repeat (round 30).

    Crown Transition
    Round 1: [K1, sl1, k1, p1] around.
    Round 2: [K1, K1 tbl, k2] around.

    Work Rounds 1-2 4[6] times, or until hat measures 7.25[8.25] inches/ 18.5[21] cm from the cast on edge, ending after round 2. If you wish to adjust the length, you can do that here.

    Crown Decreases
    Switch to needles for small circumference as hat gets too small to work on circular needle.

    Round 1: [CDD, p1, k1, sl1, k1, p1] around. 48[54] st.
    Round 2: [K1 tbl, k2] around.
    Round 3: [Sl1, p1, CDD, p1] around. 32[36] st.
    Round 4: [K1 tbl, k1] around.
    Round 5: [Sl1, CDD] around. 16[18] st.
    Round 6: K1 tbl around.
    Round 7, size S only: CDD 4 times, SSK, K2tog. 6 sts.
    Round 7, size L only: CDD 6 times. 6 sts.

    FINISHING

    Cut yarn and thread yarn needle. Pull yarn through the remaining st and pull tight. Weave in ends. Soak hat in lukewarm water for at least 15 minute to get it get fully saturated. Roll in a towel to squeeze most of the moisture out. To make the pattern stitch looks its best, you can choose to stretch the hat a little – place it over a bowl or other round object slightly smaller than desired finished size and let it dry; or let it dry flat.

    Add an optional pom-pom.

    ABOUT THE DESIGNER

    designername Alison Jarvis lives in Minneapolis where warm hats and mittens are a necessity many months of the year. She works in biomedical research and consorts with her stash during cold weather. During the brief warm months she tends her native-plant garden and volunteers at the local natural area.

    Find her on Ravelry.

    Pattern & images © 2023 Alison Jarvis