2018 Winter Games Hat

I reverse engineered this hat from pictures I had seen showing the Team USA closing ceremonies hat, which others did as well!! My hat is knit to a smaller gauge and has **5 repeats** of the diamond motif instead of 4 like other patterns. Some people have used DK weight yarn very successfully. I made this hat for my husband so he could wear it during the 2018 Birkebeiner Cross Country Ski Race in Hayward WI. The race always coincides with the end of the Winter Olympic Games. This year in particular is exciting because we have women cross country skiers in a position to do very well! I used basic worsted yarn in dark navy, bright red, and winter white/natural. It is a bit slouchy - though not as slouchy as the hats made for the athletes!! Some people have said the hat it too long - you can eliminate some of the plain navy rows after the ribbing to shorten your hat!! The original hat is quite slouchy, so I already made it a bit shorter. Row gauge may also be a factor. I bought the flag patch at JoAnn Fabrics for about $2. [Flag Patch][1] [callaway12](/people/callaway12) used an even better patch that can be found [here][2]. **Pattern Note:** I originally designed this so the center front flag placement would be under a large diamond. My hubby, the hat recipient, wanted the flag under an X. That is why the pictures of the hat are different - they show the two flag placements! [1]: https://www.joann.com/usa-flag-ap4829-123/4643383.html#q=flag%2Bpatch&start=1 [2]: https://allstitch.net/product/embroidered-american-flag-patch-wgold-border-5013.cfm [3]: http://www.stevenbe.com/shop/c/p/2018-Winter-Games-Hat-Kit-x32391375.htm