David's Hat - Pattern

Due to some requests, I have decided to share this pattern of to whomever that might want to make a simple beginners fair isle hat. This is my first attempt at writing a pattern, so please forgive me if things are out of sync or unclear. You can always e-mail me with questions.

The idea of this hat originated from a guilt trip from my good friend David. He would say "Every since you started knitting, you've said you were going to knit me something and it's been 2 years....... "

His request was simple, "I just want a hat with my alma mater colors, Black and Yellow, and incorporate my favorite color Green into it."

Well folks, this is the best I came up with. This hat is knit from the bottom up, with a nice little touch to it. It has a inner hem lining that would cushion the ears with a softer material and then the fair isle pops out on top and then back to the main color to the crown of the head. So, here you go, good luck!

Pattern: David's Hat

Skill Level: Intermediate
Finished measurement: 21" circumference. (I was told that this is the average size of a "human head")

Gauge: 4" = 21 stitches in colorwork pattern

Materials:
Knit Picks Wool of the Andes (100% Peruvian Wool)
- 2 skeins MC (Coal)
- 1 skein CC (Daffodil)

Lining Yarn (LY), Knit Picks Andean Silk (55% Super Fine Alpaca, 23% Silk, 22% Merino Wool)
- 1 skein (Olive)

Needle: Size US 5 (3.75 mm) and US 7 (4.50mm) (16" Circulars)

Instructions:
Lining:
With smaller needle and Lining Yarn, provisionally cast on 110 stitches.
Join stitches and place marker to indicate beginning of round.
Work in stockinette (k all around and around) until lining measures 2".

Switching to larger needle and MC, knit one round.
Next Row: purl 1 round (this will help to turn the hem)

Main Hat:
After purling 1 round, continue knitting with larger needles with MC until length is exactly the same length as lining, which should be 2".

Joining the Hem:
Fold piece of knitting at the purl ridge so that the stitches from the lining yarn line up with the stitches from the main body, stitch for stitch. Make sure that the stockinette side of the lining and the main body is the public side.

Put all the stitches from the provisional cast on onto the smaller needle.
Holding larger needle and smaller needle together, line up the stitches and k2tog 1 stitch from the lining yarn and 1 stitch from the main body, thus joining the hem. You should be doing 110 k2togs to close the hem up.

Attach CC and knit 2 rounds.

Begin Pattern:

After completing all 11 rows of pattern, knit 2 rounds of CC.

Knit 2 rounds of MC.

Begin shaping crown:
(K8, k2tog) all around
Knit a plain round
(K7, k2tog) all around
knit a plain round
(K6, k2tog) all around
knit a plain round

Continue knitting in this fashion, decreasing each number of knit stitch in pattern until 22 stitches remain on needle. (you might have to go to double point needles at this point). Thread yarn through 22 stitches and pull tight. Weave in all ends. Block.

Notes:
1. Use whatever yarn you like. All this pattern calls for is worsted weight yarn, and a soft nice yarn for your ears. Just make sure you get gauge.
2. Please be aware of yarn dominance when knitting the fair isle section of the hat.

So, I hope this very first patter of mine works. You guys are all welcome to test knit it, or knit it or whatever and tell me if there is anything wrong with the pattern.

Thank you.
Kenny - The Boy Who Knits