Balls to the Walls Knits: Arrowhead Hat

Arrowhead Hat Pictured in Adult Large (that’s why Hedwig’s in her big hair today)

The story behind this hat is simple: I have a friend who struggles to find a hat big enough for her hair, and I happen to know an independent knitwear accessory designer who loves to make people stuff they can’t seem to find in stores (hint: it’s me!). So, basically, the Arrowhead Hat is designed with plenty of slouch and two different sizes to accommodate as much or as little hair as you’d like to put inside of it.

Sizes: Adult Small (Adult Large) 

Yarn: Sommer Merino 125 (100% Superwash Wool; 136 yards [125 meters]/50 grams); #167 – 2 skeins (both sizes)

A better look at the back.

Needles:
One 16″ circular needle in size US 5, one 16″ circular needle in size
US 6, and one set of double pointed needles (dpns) in size US 6

Notions: Tapestry needle, 1 stitch marker

Gauge: 22 stitches = 4 inches in stockinette on size US 6 needles

And that makes it hat time! Using your size US 5 needle, then, cast on 112 (128) stitches loosely, place marker, and join in round. Then we’ll work some ribbing, as follows:

Ribbing Row: * k1, p1; rep from *

Knit this ribbing row until piece measures roughly 2.5″ in length, and then transfer work to your size US 6 circular needle. Then we’ll begin our main pattern, which is a combination of Arrowhead Lace and Little Arrowhead Lace from page 193 of Barbara G. Walker’s A Treasury of Knitting Patterns, and goes as follows:

Row 1: knit

Row 2: * k1, (yo, ssk) twice, k1, (k2tog, yo) twice, k1, yo, ssk, k1, k2tog, yo *


Row 3: knit


Row 4: * k2, yo, ssk, yo, slip 2 together knitwise-k1-pass 2 slipped stitches over (sl2-k1-p2sso), yo, k2tog, yo, k3, yo, sl2-k1-p2sso, yo, k1 *


Knit rows 1 – 4 until piece measures roughly 7″ (9″) and you’ve just finished row 1 of the pattern. Then we’ll begin the decrease as follows:


Decrease Row 1: * k1, ssk, yo, ssk, k1, k2tog, yo, k2tog, k1, yo, ssk, k1, k2tog, yo * (98 stitches (112 stitches))


Decrease Row 2: knit


If you’re making the small size, you’re going to want to switch to your dpns about now…


Decrease Row 3: * k1, ssk, yo, sl2-k1-p2sso, yo, k2tog, k2, yo, sl2-k1-p2sso, yo, k1 * (84 stitches (96 stitches))


Decrease Row 4: knit


If you’re making the large size, you’re going to want to switch to your dpns about now…


Decrease Row 5: * k1, ssk, k1, k2tog, k1, yo, ssk, k1, k2tog, yo * (70 stitches (80 stitches))


Decrease Row 6: knit


Decrease Row 7: * k1, sl2-k1-p2sso, k2, yo, sl2-k1-p2sso, yo, k1 * (56 stitches (64 stitches))


Decrease Row 8: knit


Decrease Row 9: * sl2-k1-p2sso, yo, ssk, k1, k2tog, yo * (42 stitches (48 stitches)


Decrease Row 10: * k2, sl2-k1-p2sso, k1 * (26 stitches (30 stitches))


Decrease Row 11: * k1, sl2-k1-p2sso * (12 stitches (14 stitches))


Decrease Row 12: * k2tog * (6 stitches (7 stitches))