The Bohemian Hat

A stranded colourwork hat inspired by Fair Isle traditions and the classic Fisherman's kep. Pattern is for a hat that will fit a 23" head - other sizes are not included. Knitting at a smaller gauge will, however, yield you a smaller hat, though this has not been test-knitted. Techniques involved include provisional cast-on with a crochet chain, knitting in the round, twisted-stitch ribbing and stranded colourwork. The stranded areas are fully charted, and there's some written instructions as well. Hat begins with creating the brim, then picking up stitches from the provisional cast-on to knit the crown. Needles: 150cm/60” circular needles in size US6 (4mm) and US4 (3.5mm), or whatever needle size allow you to achieve gauge. Stranded areas are knit with the larger needle. Crochet Hook: 5mm or larger. Yarn: I used the following colours and quantities of ‘Fat Fingering’ for the sample, a woollen-spun fingering weight from my own hand-dyed business ‘Bona Yarns’: Colour A - Eva: approx. 70 metres Colour B - Flint: approx. 120 metres Colour C - Pebble: approx. 40 metres Colour D - Dunwich: approx. 40 metres Colour E - Along Came A Spider: approx. 55 metres Colour F - Bluebottle: approx. 45 metres Colour G. Steal: approx. 25 metres Colour H - The Deep: approx. 25 metres Colour I - Drift: approx. 40 metres Colour J - Farthing: approx. 45 metres Colour M - The Colonel: approx. 35 metres Feel free to use other yarns of a similar weight, of course. Gauge: 27 stitches by 31 rows in stranded colour work (post-blocking). Finished Dimensions: To fit a 23”/58cm head. Hat measures 42cm/16.5” from crown to edge of brim, with a 54cm/22.5” circumference at brim. You will also need: Darning needle to weave in ends, stitch marker(s), scissors and scrap yarn in a fingering weight for the provisional cast-on. For the tassel, you will also need a piece of heavy card 10cm/4” long and a tapestry needle with a large eye (or a bodkin).