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The matching Ancient Spirals Shawl is also available.

Ancient Spirals Hat

This is a Fingering weight (heavy fingering) fairly fitted hat which is a mixture of squishy garter for a relaxed knit with the interest of sections of textured patterning and lacework, all with a Mediterranean Megalithic theme, and a cosy garter stitch brim.
I had some leftovers of The Wool Barn Cashmere Sock & Twist sock bases that I had used to make the ‘Ancient Spirals Shawl’, so I decided to make a matching hat (The matching shawl is available from my Ravelry store) but any wool based yarn should work fine.
You can adjust the both the circumference and the ‘slouch’ amount by adding / deducting repeats as explained within the Finished measurements section of the pattern.

Knitting skills & techniques used:
Intermediate : Casting on, binding off, joining in the round, knitting, purling. Increases and decreases by making both K2togethers, Slip Slip Knit, yarn overs as well as working slip 1 stitch knitwise and passing over that slipped stitch.

Materials:
The following yarn usage amount is an approximate guide and is in fact a little over the actual amount I used, as I have applied a buffer in view of differences between knitter’s gauge and such, and to give you a few grams room. Also, it is in view of making the hat as the pattern states (which is also what the numbers in the Finished measurements section are dictated by), if you choose to add extra repeats of any kind circumference or for ‘Slouch’ this would obviously effect the amounts of the required yarn:
Requires approx. 316 yards / 289 metres Fingering weight yarn.
For the Sample I used: A combination of the two following bases, one slightly plumper than the other, from ‘The Wool Barn’,
‘Cashmere Sock’, Fingering weight yarn (A & C, the two tonals), 100g, 382 yards (349 meters)
80% Wool - Merino, 10% Goat - Cashmere goat, 10% Manufactured fibres - Nylon / Polyamide)
& ‘Twist Sock’, Fingering weight yarn (B, the speckled), 100g, 400 yards (366 meters)
(80% Wool - Merino, 20% Manufactured Fibres - Nylon / Polyamide)
any wool based Fingering weight yarn with good stitch definition should work fine.
Yarn A: Silver Fern, (the silvery green) (amount used 99 yards / 91 metres)
Yarn B: Coastal, (Speckle/cream) (amount used 84 yards / 77 metres)
Yarn C: Sandstone, (Sandy beige) (amount used 95 yards / 87 metres)
Needles: 3.75mm / US 5 for main part of hat, 3.25mm / US 3 for the brim
Either on 16” circular or longer cord length for using magic loop method or spread over DPN’s. Also, you will need DPN’s (Double pointed needles) or long cord length for using magic loop method in the larger size for small circumference knitting as the crown decreases rapidly reduces the stitches.
Notions: 22 stitch markers as well as unique BOR marker, tape measure, & tapestry needle / crochet hook to weave ends

Gauge: 26 sts & 48 rows in Garter stitch, to 4” (10 cms) on 3.75 mm/US 5 needles (or your larger needles), after blocking. Note: I am using quite a plump fingering for the sample.
Gauge is not essential but can affect finished measurements / yarn usage.

Finished measurements & relating notes:
Circumference:
10” / 25cm lying flat (this hat doesn’t have ribbing),
(20”/ 50cm all the way around)
If wishing to adjust for size, you can modify in the following way, (there is a prompt to remind you of this at the start of ‘Instructions’). The cast on amount will be in 23 multiples of 6 for the pattern. Those multiples of 6 can be reduced / increased as per your preference to modify the circumference of the hat, but you would need to keep your modified figure in mind when instructions for working the amount of repeats for each round are referenced and replace it as such, including for the ‘Crown decreases’.
Length: 8” / 20cm Length before decreases: 6.5” / 17cm
(both from cast on edge so including the ribbing)
You can also modify the length and therefore the amount of slouch for your hat (See ‘Slouch Note’ under ‘Length before crown decreases’) This is adjustable by skipping / adding extra pattern repeats.
(All of this, including where you will find slouch adding reminders during the pattern, are explained within the pattern instructions)