Saturday 11 December 2010

Pirouette Hat

Please note: this pattern is now available to download as a pdf from Craftsy for $2. It will still be freely available on this blog, but I thought people might want the opportunity to download a pdf version.

Pirouette hat pattern by Littletheorem

I'm making this as a Christmas present for a french teacher friend using a bit of leftover malabrigo. It's such a nice yarn and very cosy! I've used a lace pattern that has five stitch repeats, but one extra stitch in the round which gives the twirl effect. 

Yarn Less than one ball Malabrigo Worsted ( = less than 192 m).

Needles 4.5mm/ US 7 dpns

Gauge 18st = 10cm in stocking stitch with 5mm/US 8 needles

Dimensions 19'' circumference, 9'' high. 

Notation 
k = knit
p = purl
CO = cast on
k2tog = knit two stitches together
yo = bring the yarn to the front of your knitting
k1fb = knit into the front, then the back, of the next stitch
dpn = double pointed needle


free hat knitting pattern

Directions

CO 80 stitches, 30 on first needle, 25 on second, 25 on third. Work in k2 p2 rib for 8 rounds. Now k1fb, k2, k2tog, yo *k3, k2tog, yo* until your hat measures 7''. You should end up working a k2tog at the end of each dpn (and working the next yo at the start of the following dpn), if this isn't the case shift the stitches around so it is! For the last five stitches on the last dpn before you start decreasing, only work k3 k2tog, don't do a yo on the next needle. Now work decreases as follows:

Row 1: *k3 k2tog yo k3 k2tog* to end of row (i.e. repeat the part in **'s 8 times)
Row 2: *yo k2 k2tog yo k3 k2tog* to end of row
Row 3: *k2 k2tog yo k3 k2tog* to end of row
Row 4: *yo k1 k2 tog yo k3 k2 tog* to end of row
Row 5: *k1 k2tog yo k3 k2tog* to end of row
Row 6: *yo k2tog yo k3 k2tog* to end of row
Row 7: *k2tog yo k3 k2tog* to end of row
Row 8: *k4 k2tog yo* to end of row
Row 9: k3 k2 tog *k4 k2tog* to end of row
Row 10: *k3 k2tog yo* to end of row
Row 11: k2 k2tog *k3 k2tog* to end of row
Row 12: *k2 k2tog yo* to end of row
Row 13: k1 k2tog *k2 k2tog* to end of row
Row 14: *k1 k2tog yo* to end of row
Row 15: k2tog *k1 k2tog* fto end of row
Row 16:*k2tog* to end of row


Note that "to end of row" means work three dpns, rather than 81 stitches, this ensures the pattern "twists" nicely!

8 stitches remain, cut yarn leaving a 6'' tail, thread through remaining stitches, pull tight and secure inside the hat. Weave in loose ends.


free hat knitting pattern

46 comments:

  1. Hi littletheorem,

    Thanks for sharing such beautiful pattern. I can't seem to get my lace pattern right after about 10 dpn :( I'm not sure where have I done wrong.

    For the lace pattern I followed:

    k1fb k2 k2tog yo *k3 k2tog yo*

    and it's always not ending with k2tog, but I do k2tog at my last 2 stitches at the end of each dpn. Much appreciated if you know where my problem is. :)

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  2. 3rd time lucky! I finally figure it out :)

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  3. Hi Liria,

    Glad you sorted it out! let me know if you have any more questions.

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  4. I've finished it but I messed up the decreasing a bit... Gonna give it another go! :)

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  5. The decreasing bit is hard! The trick is to make sure the k2togs are in the right place, if you make sure they're all still spiralling neatly it should be ok. Let me know if you've got any questions!

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  6. aww thank you for explaining the tricks to me :) I really like this design(first when I saw this I was like, "wow! this is amazing!!!") so I'll definitely make it again :D

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  7. Aww, thanks so much! It's really nice to hear someone's enjoying my patterns! Are you on ravelry? Would love to see some photos when you're done!

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  8. Argh, just to let people know I've fixed a mistake in this post. In the old version one of the decrease rows was repeated twice, when it should have only been once. Sincere apologies for any inconvenience!

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    Replies
    1. Hi, would love to knit this hat...how would I knit it using straight needles? I have a hard time knitting in the round.....thank you

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    2. Hi Tagaff,

      Emm, not sure that would really work with this pattern, sorry to say! In a lacy pattern where every second row is just knit it would be fine, you would just knit it flat, purl every second row, and seam at the end. Since this pattern is quite involved in every row it would be tricky to translate to working flat and you'd lose the "flow" of the pattern with a seam. Sorry!

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  9. no, I'm not on ravelry. Maybe I should get one:P I started knitting 2 years ago, I have only worked on bigger projects like cardigans and sweaters. It's your pirouette hat that I've learnt how to use double point needles :D

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  10. Hehe, ravelry's a great way to waste time - so many lovely patterns!

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    Replies
    1. Other than Ravelry, what would you prefer I do? Clean? ;-)

      I really like your creativity and thank you for sharing so much of yourself.

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  11. I love this pattern too. I also had problems, but I'm going to try it again , even with mistakes the hat was great !

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  12. So sorry you struggled with the mistake Mommad5! Thanks for your comment, very kind of you!

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  13. My yarn overs keep leaving holes that twist rather than neat little stitches that twist. What am I doing wrong? I'm bringing the yarn over just like I was taught and my k2tog aren't lining up at the end of my needles either even though I have the right amount of stitches.

    Any help?

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  14. Hi LovelyLauren. So sorry you're having trouble with the pattern. Your yarn overs should be leaving little holes so that's probably ok. The k2togs should be lining up to make spirals though. Are you using dpns or a circular needle? If you're using dpns, how many stitches do you have on each one?

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    1. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  15. are we supposed to yo after each knit 2 together at the end of the dp needle. I think I'm probably thinking too much and I keep having to start over. don't know what I'm doing wrong!!

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  16. Hi Sarah Kell, thanks very much for your question. I think I put my yo's at the start of the next needle. Does that help? :D

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  17. Yes yes! It does. I will definitely try that. Thanks for getting back so quickly! Let you know how it turns out....

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    Replies
    1. Aha! Got it. It's so easy now...I was making myself crazy! Thanks so much. I love the pattern.

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  18. thanks for the pattern, but I'm having issues with the decreasing section. It seems I have one left over stitch at the end of each row even though my stitch numbers were correct (at least to begin with...). I've just been stitching the last two together but I'm worried, after 16 rows of decreasing that this will be a problem...I'm almost halfway through the decreasing -- should I try to frog it back to the beginning of the decreases?

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  19. Emm, not sure what could have happened. Does it look ok? That many extra decreases shouldn't cause any huge problems, so if it looks ok I would probably just leave it!

    I found it helped me to see where the k2togs from the last row were and make sure I kept k2togging them so it made a spiral.

    Hope this helps! Please get back in touch if you have any further questions! :D

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  20. I'm a little confused by this line:

    "Now k1fb k2 k2tog yo *k3 k2tog yo* until your hat measures 7''."

    Should I be doing "k1fb k2 k2tog yo" part ONCE? And then REPEATING "k3 k2together yo"? Because I'm unsure why the second part is asterisked . Please clarify, thanks!!

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  21. Yep, you're exactly right! Keep repeating the part between the asterisks.

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  22. Hey - I've figured out what's going on with the decreases. If you skip the YO after the very last K2TOG stitch of the very last row before you start the first decrease row, all of the decrease rows line up perfectly!

    This is working for me and I am using circular needles. Just wanted to let you know.

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    Replies
    1. Hey, thank you so much for spotting this! I've changed the pattern to fix this now. Thanks again, this is really a huge help!

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  23. In your notation it says kbf but in the instructions it says kfb. Which one do I do? Also do we kfb/kbf, ketog,yo,*3 k2tog, yo* EVERY round or just keep repeating the past in asterisk each round? Thank you! I am excited to work this pattern!

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    Replies
    1. Oops! It should say kfb in the notation. Thanks for spotting that! You just keep repeating the part in asterisks, not the kfb. Hope you enjoy the pattern and thanks again!

      Dot

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  24. Such a beautiful pattern! Would love to try it, but am a beginner.. how many dpn needles does one actually need for this? 3?

    thanks

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    Replies
    1. Thanks, I'm glad you like it! I used four dpns, you cast on stitches on three and knit with the fourth.

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  25. Thanks for sharing this pattern for such a beautiful hat! Very easy to follow! It was the first time I'd done a completed project with dpns.

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  26. I'm using circular needles, not dpn, but when I start the second round with a YO after my stitch marker and continue on with the k1fb, k2, k2tog, yo, *k3, k2tog, yo* they don't line up. It looks as though I should be doing my first k of the * sequence on a yo, right? . Is there something I'm doing wrong or a different way I should be doing this since I'm using CN? PLEASE respond ASAP as I'm in the middle of this for a bday gift tomorrow, thanks!! It's such a beautiful latter, I hope I can make it work!

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  27. Ahh, you only do the k1fb once in the whole hat, on the first row, then just work *k3 k2tog yo* over and over until you get to the decreases.

    So sorry to have replied so late! I don't check the comments here every day. Sorry!

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  28. Thanks, I'll give it a try...I can so this pattern on Circlular Needles, right?

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    Replies
    1. I know I have many times with Magic Loop. I love this pattern because it's mindless except for measuring! The repeat makes it attractive, and not so plain stst! Thank you!

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  29. Your pattern instructions:
    Now k1fb, k2, k2tog, yo *k3, k2tog, yo* until your hat measures 7''.

    THIS *is* the only k1fb - and it is NOT included in the repeat * - *.

    Good to have been brought to my attention.

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  30. When I get to row 9 of decreasing, , I get to the end of the row, and I am left with 3 stitches, instead of 2. I end the previous row with YO, and as a result, I end up with an extra stitch. Should I not be ending with YO in the previous row or should I not be k3 k2tog at the beginning of row 9? I have made this pattern twice already last year, and I was making it again this year, but I am stuck :( I don't remember how I fixed it last time. I really love this pattern :)

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    Replies
    1. Sorry about this! I would drop the yo from the previous round and see if the stitches still line up nicely!

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  31. Should I use a size 7 needle? I'm knitting it on one set of needles.

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    Replies
    1. Yes, size 7 (if that gives you the right gauge!)

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