Whit's Knits: Cozy Warm Hat

The Cozy Warm Hat is that and more! Knit in one simple shape, it protects your ears and nape from the bitter elements of winter. Plus, it's the kind of hat that makes you smile inside, knowing that, at least in the hat department, you've got it together!

All you'll need is one skein of Knit Collage's beautiful Sister. One hundred percent wool, Sister is a sumptuous thick and thin treat. Bulky, soft and super toasty, it's just the ticket for this season's wear-everywhere Cozy Warm Hat!

The Materials

• 1 skein of Knit Collage's Sister, 100% Wool. This color is Soft Ivory. (You may be able to just squeak two hats out of one skein, but you'll definitely get three hats out of two skeins!)
• A US #15, 16 inch circular needle.
• A set of US #15 double pointed needles.
• A stitch holder (optional).

The Pattern

Gauge

9 1/2 stitches = 4 inches in stockinette

Finished Size

19 inches in circumference, to fit most women

Pattern Notes

When the pattern says to "make 1 left purlwise": Pick up the yarn between the last stitch you knit and the one you're about to knit just as you would for a regular make 1 right, bringing the needle from back to front.

Then purl into the front of the stitch.

When the pattern says to "make 1 right purlwise": Pick up the yarn between the last stitch you knit and the one you're about to knit just as you would for a regular make 1 left, bringing the needle from front to back.

Then purl into the back of the stitch.

Left Ear Flap

With the circular needle, cast on 5 stitches.

Row 1: K2, make 1 right (m1r), k1, make 1 left (m1l), k2. (7 stitches)

Row 2: Purl.

Row 3: K3, m1r, k1, m1l, k3. (9 stitches)

Row 4: Purl.

Row 5: K1, m1r, knit to end of row, (10 stitches)

Row 6: Purl to last stitch, make 1 left purlwise (see Pattern Notes), p1. (11 stitches)

Rows 7 and 8: Repeat Rows 5 and 6. (13 stitches)

Cut the yarn and put the Left Ear Flap on a stitch holder (or scrap yarn).

Right Ear Flap

With the circular needle, cast on 5 stitches.

Repeat Rows 1-3 of Left Ear Flap.

Row 4: P1, make 1 right purlwise (see Pattern Notes), purl to end of row. (10 stitches)

Row 5: Knit to last stitch, m1l, k1. (11 stitches)

Rows 6 and 7: Repeat Rows 4 and 5. (13 stitches)

Row 8: With the purl side facing you, use a Cable Cast-On to cast on 7 stitches.

With the purlside still facing you, purl to the end of the row. (20 stitches)

Joining the Ear Flaps

Knit the 20 stitches of the Right Ear Flap.

Then, making sure the knit side is facing you, knit the first stitch of the Left Ear Flap.

Knit to the end of the Left Ear Flap. (33 stitches)

The Nape

Row 1: Purl.

Row 2: K1, ssk, knit to last 3 stitches, k2tog, k1. (31 stitches)

Rows 3 and 4: Repeat Rows 1 and 2. (29 stitches)

With the purl side facing you, use a Cable Cast-On to cast on 16 stitches.

Joining Into Round

Turn the work so the knit side is facing you and, being careful to not twist the stitches, place a marker and join for working in the round. (45 stitches)

Knit 11 rounds.

The Crown

Round 1: *K7, k2tog, repeat from * to end of round. (40 stitches)

Round 2: Knit.

Round 3: *K6, k2tog, repeat from * to end of round. (35 stitches)

Round 4: Knit.

Round 5: *K5, k2tog, repeat from * to end of round. (30 stitches)

Round 6: Knit.

Changing to double pointed needles...

Round 7: *K4, k2tog, repeat from * to end of round. (25 stitches)

Round 8: Knit.

Round 9: *K3, k2tog, repeat from * to end of round. (20 stitches)

Round 10: *K2, k2tog, repeat from * to end of round. (15 stitches)

Round 11: *K1, k2tog, repeat from * to end of round. (10 stitches)

Round 12: *K2tog, repeat from * to end of round. (5 stitches)

Cut the yarn and thread it through the 5 remaining stitches.

Weave in the ends.

The I-Cord

Use a Provisional Cast On to cast 2 stitches onto a double pointed needle. (Why a Provisional Cast On? So that you can graft the I-cord ends together, avoiding a seam. However, if you find a Provisional Cast On a bit overwhelming, then just cast on normally, and when you're finished, you can just sew the two ends together.)

Starting anywhere at the back of the hat, knit an Attached I-Cord around the entire edge of the hat, around the Left Ear Flap, across the forehead, around the Right Ear Flap and across the back. Pick up one stitch for every stitch, about 74 stitches total.

If you made a Provisional Cast On, use the Kitchener Stitch to graft the ends together. Otherwise, just sew the two ends together as inconspicuously as possible.

Weave in the remaining ends and you're all done!