Pumpkin Spice Beanie

posted by Diana

I know I seemed all gung-ho about Halloween two posts ago, but I got a little distracted.

Now that it's fall, the morning air is crisp and my walk into work has gotten a bit brisk at 50 degrees. Of course, none of my hat collection is up to snuff with my current fashion infatuations, squid hat excepted, so I had to knit up a new outfit option. Because hats make an outfit, am I right?

I've had this orange Lion Brand Thick & Quick yarn at least five years, which is a long time to keep a tiny extra ball of yarn with no project in mind.

Nerd alert: The first time I used this yarn was for the infamous Jayne hat I knit for a good friend (the Jayne hat from the epic one season show by Joss Whedon--Firefly!) I can't believe I don't have a picture of it, but it's awesome and she still wears it years later. I'd like to think that's a testament to my immaculate craftsmanship, but also she looks great in hats.

The next time I knit up some of the orange yarn was to finish off a hat for another friend. I was nearly out of my working yarn (a delightful mustard yellow) when I decided to hunt through the stash for a coordinating color that could become the crown of the hat. I added some corresponding orange bits at the base of the hat and nearly running out of yarn became a design feature. As with the Jayne hat, I have no photographic evidence that it exists.

Now, in its third and final form, this yarn is a hat for me.

This hat didn't take much yarn at all... it weighs in at 2.6 ounces. The ballband says a full skein of Lion Brand Thick & Quick should be 6 ounces, so that's less than half of a ball of yarn for a complete hat for an adult. An adult with a small head that still wears glitter on a daily basis, but, age-wise, an adult nonetheless.

Want to make your own chunky, slightly slouchy hat?

Here's the pattern:

Needle size: US 15, circular needle and DPNs
Gauge: 8.5 sts and 13 rows over 4"

Using Long-tail cast-on and circular needle--
CO 40 sts
Place marker at beginning of round.
Row 1: P
Row 2: K
Row 3: P
Row 4: K
Continue knitting in the round until hat measures about 5 inches from cast on. Begin decreases. Change to DPNs when comfortable.

 Decreases:
Row 1: *K3, k2tog, repeat from *
Row 2: K
Row: 3: *K2, k2tog, repeat from *
Row 4: K
Row 5: *K1, k2tog, repeat from *
Row 6: K
Row 7: *k2tog, repeat from *
Row 8: *k2tog, repeat from *

Cut yarn. Thread tail through remaining sts.

Finishing:
Weave in ends

Optional: Make a tiny pom-pom with any leftover yarn.

This pattern makes a hat that fits my 21" head. This hat is made with no negative ease and a bit of stretch, so it would still fit someone with a larger head... just a little closer fitting and more skullcap-like. Personally, most slouchy hats are too slouchy on my small head, so this pattern fits me just right.

If you want to knit up this hat for yourself, it can be made in an afternoon from any bulky yarn. It's perfect for a last minute knitted gift! Or for those moments when your fall/winter wardrobe could use a bit of a pick-me-up.

Happy making!