Hat for CancerCare's Knit-Out

On December 2nd, CancerCare held it's 4th Annual Knit-out, and encouraged knitters to use their creativity in creating a special hat for a patient. They asked me to take a kit home, and complete a second hat, and I graciously accepted, because I was so excited about the idea. Time progressed, and it is now February. So, I made this motif just in time for Valentine's Day. The hat has been shipped to their headquarters, and I hope that the person who recieves it will enjoy wearing it as much as I enjoyed making it.

This hat was made using 2 skeins of Filatura Di Crosa's "Primo" yarn, which is 100% Merino wool, and is machine washable. The needle size is 9, with a gauge of 4 stitches per inch. I started with a 16 inch circular, then used bamboo double pointed needles to close the top. There is a Fair Isle section in the middle of this hat. It is wise to ease up on the yarn's tension during this portion, so the yarn does not get bunched up. It has been said that doing Fair Isle in the round is impossible. Well, I just did it, so there you go. I like to break the "rules".

The design of this hat was created by yours truly. Here it is.

MC = Red CC =White.

Using MC, cast on 76 Stitches using the longtail cast on.

K2 P2* for 8 rounds

Continue using MC, and knit 2 more rounds

Using CC, knit 10 rounds even

Using MC, knit 2 rounds even

Using CC, knit 2 rounds even

Begin pattern.

Pattern Ruond 1 -K3 (CC), K1(MC)*

Pattern Round 2 -Knit the whole round using CC

Pattern Round 3 - K1(CC), (K1(MC), K3(CC))* - Repeat * until the end of the round

Pattern Round 4 - Knit the whole round using CC

Pattern Round 5 - K3 (CC), K1(MC)*

Using CC, Knit 2 rounds

Using MC, Knit 2 rounds

Using CC, Knit 10 rounds

Begin Decreasing

1. Using MC, K17, K2tog*. (This will decrease this round by 4 stitches, making it easier to decrease the top of the hat symetrically)
2. Knit the next round even. (72 sts)
3. K6, K2tog *
4. Knit whole round (63 sts)
5. K5, K2tog*
6. Knit whole round (54 sts)
7. K4, K2tog*
8. Knit whole round (45 sts)
9. K3, K2tog*
10. Knit whole round (36 sts)
11. K2, K2tog*
12. Knit whole round (27 sts)
13. K1, K2tog*
14. Knit whole round (18 sts)
15. K2tog* (9 sts)
16. K2 tog (4 times)

5 stitches remain. Break yarn, and draw through loops.

Weave in loose ends.