Autumn is a great time to knit accessories. They not only make wonderful gifts for the upcoming holidays, but they also provide a nice reprieve after the mad dash to finish your first fall garments. (Anyone else having Rhinebeck sweater induced knitting fatigue?)
A hat is a welcome, easy knit that keeps your fingers occupied with little need to pay close attention to your pattern. My house is full of hats, because not only do I like to knit something quick and satisfying between larger, more complex projects, but I use my hats as swatches for future designs.
Named for the Croft House Farm Cafe in Buttermere – near the Lake District National Park in Cumbria, UK – the Croft House Beanie is knit in The Fibre Co. Cumbria yarn in the color buttermere. While I would love to be able to travel to the Lake District and knit in the hat’s namesake farm cafe, I actually knit this hat last year during our trip to the New York Sheep and Wool Festival in Rhinebeck, NY.
Leaf peeping (or “Leaf Look” in the Lake District National Park of Cumbria) is a time honored tradition, and the coming weeks are going to be the peak season here in my hometown of Philadelphia. We plan to head out to Solebury Orchards this weekend to go apple picking, and even though it’s been unseasonably warm , I might throw my Croft House Beanie in my bag…just in case. And, maybe I’ll throw in another skein of Cumbria and some needles for the car ride.
One can never have too many hats.
SPECIFICATIONS
DESIGNER: Courtney Kelley
YARN: The Fibre Co. Cumbria (90% wool, 10% mohair; 238 yds/100 gm skein): buttermere, 1 skein.
GAUGE: 18 sts + 24 rnds = 4” (10 cm) in St st on larger ndls, after blocking.
NEEDLES: 1 – 16” (40 cm) US 7 (4.25 mm) circular. 1 – set US 7 (4.25 mm) DPNs.
NOTIONS: Tapestry needle, stitch marker.
SIZE: 18.75″ (47.5 cm) circumference, 10.75″ (27.5 cm) height.
SKILLS: Knitting, purling, decreasing
ABBREVIATIONS
For a list of commonly used abbreviations, please visit: kelbournewoolens.com/abbreviations.
WORTHY OF NOTE
This hat is worked from the bottom up in the round. It begins with a K2, P2 garter ribbing, then the body is worked in stockinette stitch. The entire hat is worked on the same size needle, but you can opt to work the ribbing on one needle size smaller. Decreases are worked to shape the crown. Switch to double pointed needles (dpns) when the work no longer fits comfortably around your 16″ circular.
STITCH PATTERNS
K2, P2 GARTER RIBBING (In the rnd over a mult of 4):
Rnd 1: *K2, p2; rep from * around.
Rnd 2: Knit all sts.
Rep Rnds 1-2 for patt.
DIRECTIONS
BRIM:
CO 84 sts. Join for working in the rnd, being careful not to twist sts. PM indicating beg of rnd. Work in K2, P2 Garter Ribbing for 1.5″ (4 cm).
BODY:
Work in stockinette stitch (knit every round) for 6.25″ (16 cm) or to desired length before decreases.
CROWN:
Work crown decreases as follows:
Rnd 1 (Dec): *K12, k2tog; rep from * around – 78 sts.
Rnd 2: Knit all sts.
Rnd 3 (Dec): *K11, k2tog; rep from * around – 72 sts.
Rnd 4: Knit all sts.
Rnd 5 (Dec): *K10, k2tog; rep from * around – 66 sts.
Rnd 6: Knit all sts.
Rnd 7 (Dec): *K9, k2tog; rep from * around – 60 sts.
Rnd 8: Knit all sts.
Rnd 9 (Dec): *K8, k2tog; rep from * around – 54 sts.
Rnd 10: Knit all sts.
Rnd 11 (Dec): *K7, k2tog; rep from * around – 48 sts.
Rnd 12 (Dec): *K6, k2tog; rep from * around – 42 sts.
Rnd 13 (Dec): *K5, k2tog; rep from * around – 36 sts.
Rnd 14 (Dec): *K4, k2tog; rep from * around – 30 sts.
Rnd 15 (Dec): *K3, k2tog; rep from * around – 24 sts.
Rnd 16 (Dec): *K2, k2tog; rep from * around – 18 sts.
Rnd 17 (Dec): *K1, k2tog; rep from * around – 12 sts.
Rnd 18 (Dec): *K2tog; rep from * around – 6 sts.
FINISHING:
Break yarn, leaving a 8″ (20.25 cm) tail. Thread through live sts, pull taut. Weave in ends. Soak in cool water and wool wash and lay flat to dry.
