Pete
~ A perfectly simple man’s hat ~
Susan B. Anderson

My brother, Peter, is one who never asks for anything. Quite a few years ago he let me knit him a simple hat with a few stripes and he loved it. I jotted down the pattern on a scrap of paper and pinned it to my studio bulletin board just in case he ever wanted another. This past weekend at Thanksgiving Pete asked if I would knit him a new hat just like the one from years ago. I jumped at the chance, quickly unpinned that waiting scrap of paper from my bulletin board and got to knitting. His only request was that the hat be a smidgen longer in length to cover his ears better which I did on this version.

My brother is an understated guy. He’s handsome, kind, quiet and humble. I feel like this hat suits him to a tee. I bet you might have some men just like my beloved Peter in your life so I decided to share this simple pattern with you.

Enjoy!

Important Pattern Note: The sample hat is knit holding two strands of fingering weight yarn together throughout, which is about the same as a worsted weight yarn. You could easily substitute with a worsted weight yarn.

Finished size at ribbed brim: 20-inch circumference, sized to fit a 21 to 23-inch head circumference.
Pete’s head measures 23 inches.
The model’s head measures 22.5 inches.

Yarn: Any sock or fingering weight yarn, two strands held together throughout OR a worsted weight yarn.

Yarn Requirements: One 100 gram skein/ball fingering weight for the Main Color or one generous skein of worsted weight (for example, Cascade 220). Two contrasting colors, small amounts needed (use leftovers if possible!).

Yarn needed in grams:
Finished sample hat weighs 72 grams in total.
Main Color (MC): 63 grams used
Contrast Color 1 (CC1): 12 grams were used
Contrast Color 2 (CC2): 7 grams were used

Sample Hat Yarn:
Fingering weight (2-strands held double), 70% Superwash Wool, 25% Polymide, 5% Viscose, 100 grams per skein/438 yards/400 meters.
Main Color: Schachenmayr Regia 4-fadig Tweed in color #00010 (brown)
Contrast Color 1: Schachenmayr Regia Trend & Classic Tweed in color #09066 (gold)
Contrast Color 2: Schachenmayr Regia Tweed Trend & Classic in color #00002 (natural)

The original hat mentioned in the introduction (not photographed here) was made using Cascade 220, a worsted weight 100% wool.

Needles:
US size 5/3.75mm 16-inch circular needle for brim
US size 6/4mm 16-inch circular needle for body of the hat
US size 6/4mm double-pointed needles for the top of the hat or preferred method for working on a small number of stitches in the round
As always, use the correct size to obtain gauge.

Gauge: 5.25 sts per inch in stockinette stitch on the larger needles

Abbreviations:
K knit
P purl
K2tog knit two stitches together
Kfb knit in the front and back of the same stitch
Rnd(s) round(s)
St(s) stitch(es)
MC main color
CC1 contrast color 1
CC2 contrast color 2

Materials:
Yarn needle
Detachable stitch marker
Ruler or tape measure
Scissors