What could be better than vanilla ice cream covered in a shot of expresso? A cold head covered in a luxurious alpaca hat perhaps?

Affogato is worked in the round and is suitable for circular needles or DPNs. If you use a small circular for the main body you may wish to change to DPNs for the crown shaping. I worked the sample on a long circular using magic loop throughout.

Affogato begins with a band of stripes in stocking and reverse stocking stitches. The stripes are worked with the travelling jogless stripes technique which is fully described in written form in the pattern, and links for online references are also included if you would like diagrams as well.

The main section of the hat is worked in textured stitch pattern called froth stitch. Its a “make and lose” pattern, and stitch counts are given at the end of each row in which the count changes. There are several plain knit rounds within the pattern repeat which gives a nice balance of ease and interest.

Cleckheaton Perfect Day 8ply is a lovely natural coloured yarn supplied by Australian Country Spinners, and it is an “8ply” in the Australian usage of the term, to represent thickness (it has three actual plies). Australian 8ply weight yarns tend to be little thicker than a typical DK weight from other countries, so I have listed this as a worsted pattern as the gauge used (18 stitches per 4 inches/10cm) is more typical of worsted and thinner aran weight yarns.

Available in three sizes:

Child to fit approx 55cm / 21.5”
Adult to fit approx 58cm / 23”
Large Adult to fit approx 61cm / 24” head circumference.

Thanks to all my wonderful testers from the Free Pattern Testers group!

One of my testers has made a lovely matching cowl, see soulalcatraz’s Affogato Cowl for notes and pictures.

I am working on a matching set of mitts, the pattern should be up for testing in Free Pattern Testers in early to mid April 2013. Purchases of the hat pattern will count for a discount towards the mitts pattern when its released.