LIFE

Free pattern for stylish knitted cap

We have reprinted this pattern with permission from "60 Quick Luxury Knits." We invite you to make it as part of our chemo cap project.

Pamela MacKenzie
@pammackenziemcj

Last week, I reviewed a new book "60 Quick Luxury Knits," from Sixth & Spring Books and Cascade Yarns. As I was writing that review, I asked the publisher for permission to print the hat on the cover of that book because I thought some of you would enjoy making it as a chemo cap for our summer charity knitting project. Ann McCauley, designed the hat for Cascade Yarns.

Sixth and Spring Books has given us permission to republish this copyrighted material. I am going to ask all of you to respect the copyright and not mass produce it, but rather keep this newspaper or print a copy for yourself from our website and encourage your friends to do the same. It will go on MyCentral

In this sideways view, you can see how the hat starts at the top with a little top knot.

Jersey.com for a month, and during that time, you and all your friends will be able to come to our site as often as you want to print out copies. After that, it will come down off the web, and you'll have to get the book to get the pattern.

Slouchy Seed Stitch Hat, designed by Ann McCauley

A pale neutral allows rich textures to shine, including allover seed stitch and a ribbed brim bordered by I-cords.

Skill Level: Intermediate

Gauge: 18 sts and 36 rnds to 4"/10cm over seed st using size 7 (4.5mm) needles. Take time to check gauge.

Knitted Measurements

Brim circumference (unstretched) 18"/45.5cm

Length 9"/23cm

Materials

One 3 1/2oz/100g hank (each approx 219yd/200m) of Cascade Yarns Venezia Worsted (merino wool/mulberry silk) in #173 grey

Editor's note: For the summer charity project, knitting chemo caps for Steeplechase Cancer Center, we would prefer that you use a cotton or cotton blend yarn that will give you the same gauge or close to it. Keep in mind that head sizes are individual, so if your hat comes out a little smaller or bigger than this pattern, it's probably OK. Cascade has a line of Pima yarns that are wonderfully soft cotton.

· One set (5) size 7 (4.5mm) double-pointed needles (dpns) or size to obtain gauge

· Size 7 (4.5mm) circular needle, 16"/40cm long

· Stitch marker

Stitch Glossary

Inc 1 Work into front and back of next st to maintain seed st pat while inc 1 st.

Seed Stitch (over an even number of sts)

Rnd 1 *P1, k1; rep from * to end.

Rnd 2 K the purl sts and p the knit sts.

Rep rnd 2 for seed st.

K2, P2, Rib

(multiple of 4 sts)

Rnd 1 *P2, k2; rep from * around.

Rep rnd 1 for k2, p2 rib.

Note

Hat is begun with I-cord top knot and worked to the brim. The brim begins with applied I-cord; stitches are then picked up and worked in k2, p2 rib and finished with a 2nd round of applied I-cord.

Hat

I-CORD TOP KNOT

With 2 dpns, cast on 4 sts. Work rnd 1 of seed st. *Without turning work, slide the sts back to the opposite end of needle to work rnd 2 of seed st from RS. Pull yarn tightly from the end of the row. Rep from * until 13 rows of I-cord are complete.

Inc rnd 1 Inc 1 in each st around—8 sts. Divide sts evenly on 4 dpns.

Work 1 rnd even in seed st.

Rep inc rnd 1—16 sts.

Next rnd [Work 2 sts, place marker (pm)] 8 times around.

Inc rnd 2 [Work in seed st to 1 st before marker, inc 1, sl marker] 8 times around—8 sts inc'd.

Work 1 rnd even in seed st.

Cont in seed st, rep inc rnd every other rnd 13 times more—128 sts.

Change to circular needle when necessary.

Place marker in last inc rnd.

Work even in seed st until piece measures 4"/10cm from marker, dec 8 sts evenly around in last rnd—120 sts.

Break yarn, leaving a long tail.

Brim

UPPER APPLIED I-CORD

With 2 dpns, cast on 4 sts.

Next row *K to last st on dpn, k last st tog tbl with 1 st from circular needle. *Without turning work, slide sts back to opposite end of needle to work next row from RS. Pull yarn tightly from end of row. Rep from * until all sts from circular needle have been worked into applied I-cord. Bind off 4 rem sts.

RIB

With circular needle, pick up and k 120 sts along the "ladders" formed by pulling the yarn across the back of the I-cord. Work 12 rnds in k2, p2 rib. Break yarn, leaving a long tail.

LOWER APPLIED I-CORD

With 2 dpns, cast on 5 sts, work as for upper applied I-cord.

Finishing

Curl I-cord stem at beg of hat, forming nub for top knot, and sew in place.

Staff Writer Pamela MacKenzie: 908-243-6616; pmackenzie@MyCentral

Jersey.com. Read Pam's blog, also called In Stitches, every day at www.MyCentralJersey.

com/institches.