I really love the idea of a stocking hat, but they aren’t the most practical of hats in my climate. I decided to make one with a looser fabric with a bit of a looser fit, hoping to make it just airy enough that I could get more wear out of it.

Then Austin got the most snow we have ever had, complete with a total failure of the power grid and water systems statewide (guys, I swear I didn’t realize wanting a cold-weather hat was like making a wish on a monkey’s paw). I managed to finish my hat, at least? Anyway, the hat works just as I hoped, and it’s just long enough that you can wrap the long end around your neck so it doubles as a short scarf.

This also is a perfect chance to use a space-dyed or self-striping yarn. I’d been eyeing this Queenland Perth colorway for a long time, and it does not disappoint!

Notes:

The loose gauge makes it really stretchy, and the weight of the hat could end up pulling it down some. That makes the sizing a bit tricky; if it comes out too loose, you could try adding elastic thread inside the ribbing.

Marking each decrease rounds with scrap yarn or safety pins makes it much easier to keep track. Using a row counter is a great idea, too, though I really like the added safety of using row markers.

When you start working decrease rounds, it helps to use contrasting markers, so you can easily tell which is the one marking the beginning/end of each round.