Basket Weave Hat

Todd’s Basket Weave Hat

Needles and yarn

Needle: US 8 / 5.0 mm
Yarn: Cascade Yarns Ecological Wool, Worsted / 10 ply, Wool
Gauge: 4.25stitches/1”, 17 stitches/ 4”
How much? 0.2 skeins = 95.6 yards (87.4m)
Finished Size: 21” circumference X 8” tall

This hat, along with the Basket Weave Scarf, will make a matching set, and can be completed out of one skein of Cascade Ecological Wool.

The Hat

Cast on 90 stitches onto straight needles using a long tail cast on. Work in Garter Stitch for 5 rows (knit all rows). Place marker and join in round, taking care not to twist the stitches. Begin working in Basket Weave pattern until the hat equals approximately 6 inches, ending with row 1 or row 9.

• Basket Weave Pattern:
  
  Rows 1-8:
  *Knit 5 Purl 5 repeat from * until the end of the round.
  
  Rows 9-16:
  *Purl 5, Knit 5 repeat from * until the end of the round.
  

Decreases:
The section for the decreases is knit in stockinette stitch (knittin all stitches) As you work you decreases, the circumference of the hat will get smaller. When the circumference is too small to work comfortably, switch to 4 double pointed needles and continue to work the decreases.

For the next round work as follows:

*k15, Place Marker, repeat from * for entire round.

All remaining rounds are decrease rounds, and are worked as follows:

*k2tog, k to marker, repeat from * to end of round.

When only 12 sts remain, break yarn and weave tail through remaining sts.

Finishing:
Break the yarn leaving a 6-8 inch tail, thread onto a tapestry needle and weave through the remaining stitches, pull tight and weave in end, trim excess.

Brim – thread the end of the long tail cast on onto a tapestry needle. Stitch together the sides of the Garter Stitch brim and weave in the ends, trim excess.