Nanna's Toque

I needed a hat pattern and found one using the browser on my BlackBerry, but I found the small screen annoying and didn't like repeatedly having to zoom to read the pattern ... so I gave up on it and designed the toque myself. Yes, I could have solved the problem by going to my computer, but I had a couch tied to my butt and I couldn't move. Plus, designing the hat was fun.

I used wool/silk homespun in worsted weight. I used 4mm needles and sized this hat for a grown-ass woman, to quote the February Lady Sweater description. Gauge ... hmmmmm ... since it's homespun, it's not exactly even and I wouldn't want to guess. Maybe just follow your ball-band's recommended gauge.

It's a fun jaunt through a few stitch patterns, keeping things interesting on this quick knit.


The Stitches:

k - knit
p - purl
bamboo stitch - yarn over (yo), knit two, then pass the yo over the two knitted stitches
k2tog - knit two stitches together
p2tog - purl two stitches together


The Pattern:

Cast on 96 stitches and join to work in the round, placing a marker at the end of round.

Each round's instruction is for the entire round - e.g. Round 1 - purl all stitches in the round.

Rounds 1 - p
2 - k
3 - p
Rnds 4 - 7 - k
8 - 11 - p
12 - k
13 - bamboo
14 - k
15 - bamboo
16 - k
17 - 20 - p
21 - 25 - k
26 - 29 - p
30 - bamboo
31 - k
32 - bamboo
33 - knit
34 - bamboo
35 - *k10, k2tog (repeat from * to end of round)
36 - bamboo
37 - *k9, k2tog (repeat from * to end of round)
38 - bamboo
39 - *k8, k2tog (repeat from * to end of round)
40 - bamboo
41 - *k7, k2tog (repeat from * to end of round)
42 - bamboo
43 - *k6, k2tog (repeat from * to end of round)
44 - bamboo
45 - *k5, k2tog (repeat from * to end of round)
46 - p
47 - *p4, p2tog (repeat from * to end of round)
48 - p
49 - *p3, p2tog (repeat from * to end of round)
50 - k
51 - *k2, k2tog (repeat from * to end of round)
52 - k
53 - *k1, k2tog (repeat from * to end of round)
54 - k
55 - *k2tog (repeat from * to end of round)


The Finishing:

Cut yarn and draw through remaining stitches.

Weave in yarn ends.

Block lightly to flatten out the horizontal ribs a bit.

Put it on your head.