I used a pattern I found on Ravelry.com, a knitting myspace thing. It's pretty cool. Anyway, the pattern was so cute that I had to make it, but it wasn't perfect. There were a few things that needed changing. You can decide for yourself what to do. You can get the original pattern and check it out for yourself, or you can follow my instructions below. I used Rachel's pattern as a template and just added my changes. However, she is the brains behind this operation. I only get credit for moving some numbers around.
Robin’s Egg Blue Hat By Rachel Iufer
Approximate finished circumference:18 inches (My head is 21 inches, and the hat is fine.)
Gauge:
16 sts to 4 inches, 24 rows to 4 inches in stockinette
14 sts to 4 inches, 28 rows to 4 inches in seed stitch
Materials:
Misti Alpaca Chunky, less than one skein (108 yds)
US 10 (6.0mm) straights and double pointed needles (The way I knit, I used size 9 to get the gauge.)
1 Button: 1 5/8 to 2 inch diameter
Tapestry needle to weave in ends
Terms:
K2tog: knit two stitches together as one
Seed stitch: k1, p1 to end. On next, and following rows, knit into the purl stitches and purl into the knit stitches.
Kf/b: knit into the front of the stitch, leave it on the left needle then knit into the back of the stitch. One stitch increased.
Pattern:
*With straight needles, cast on 75 stitches
*Work 3 rows seed stitch, slip the last stitch purlwise on even rows throughout the hat band.
*Increase rows:
Rw 1: k1, kf/b, continue in seed stitch
Rw 2: seed stitch
Rep row 1 and 2, two times more (3 stitches increased)
*Decrease rows:
Rw 1: k1, k2tog, continue in seed stitch
Rw 2: seed stitch
Rep row 1 and 2, two times more (3 stitches decreased)
*Knit two more rows seed stitch.
*Next row: bind off 12 stitches, knit to the end of the row and join in the round on double pointed needles (63 stitches total)
*Work in the round in stockinette stitch until the hat measures 5-5.5 inches in total.
*Begin decreases:
Rw 1: *knit 7, k2tog* rep form. k to end (56 stitches)
Rw 2: k all stitches
Rw 3: *knit 6, k2tog* rep form. k to end (49 stitches)
Rw 4: k all stitches
Rw 5: *knit 5, k2tog* rep form. k to end (42 stitches)
Rw 6: k all stitches
Rw 7: *knit 4, k2tog* rep form. k to end (35 stitches)
Rw 8: k all stitches
Rw 9: *knit 3, k2tog* rep form. k to end (28 stitches)
Rw 10: k all stitches
Rw 11: *knit 2, k2tog* rep form. k to end (21 stitches)
Rw 12: k all stitches
Rw 13: *knit 1, k2tog* rep form. k to end (14 stiches)
Rw 14: *k2tog* to end (7 stitches)
*Cut yarn, thread tail through the remaining loops and secure.
*Tack down the flap to the base of the hat and sew on a button. Weave in all ends.
