100 Stitch Surprise

100 Stitch Surprise

By Amanda Sadler

This hat is a wonderful way to experiment with that skein of yarn you have to have, but have no idea what to do with.  The plain yarn on the top and bottom give it shape, and the rest is a great place to let the yarn surprise you!

Yarn:

Light worsted weight yarn for the top and bottom of the hat, and anything that pleases you for the surprise!

Gauge:

For the top and bottom of the hat, 5 stitches to the inch, gauge for the surprise band will vary wildly.  Don’t let it alarm you.

Needles: 

One 16 inch circular needle and a set of matching double pointed needles to finish the top.  I used a size 7 needle.  You need to use the needle that gives YOU the right gauge.

Brim of hat:

Using your light worsted yarn, cast on 100 stitches, and work 2 inches of k3, p1, ribbing. 

Switch to your surprise yarn.

Body of hat:

Knit around and around until your hat is 6 inches long.  Switch back to your regular yarn, and knit 2 rounds.

Decreasing:

Round 1:  *k8, k2tog, repeat from * around.  (90 stitches remain)

Round 2 and all even rounds:  K around.

Round 3:  *k7, k2tog, repeat from * around.  (80 stitches remain)

Round 5:  *k6, k2tog, repeat from * around.  (70 stitches remain)

Round 7:  *k5, k2tog, repeat from * around.  (60 stitches remain)

Round 9:  *k4, k2tog, repeat from * around.  (50 stitches remain)

Round 11: *k3, k2tog, repeat from * around.  (40 stitches remain)

Round 13: *k2, k2tog, repeat from * around.  (30 stitches remain)

Round 15:  *k1, k2tog, repeat from * around. (20 stitches remain)

Round 17:  k2tog around.  (10 stitches remain)

Finishing:

Break yarn and thread the end onto a needle, and draw through the remaining stitches.  Pull tight and weave in ends on the wrong side.  Block if needed to make the yarn bloom.