He lives in an oak-wood and has a great wooden house; and as a man he keeps cattle and horses… … He does not eat them; neither does he hunt or eat wild animals. He keeps hives and hives of great fierce bees, and lives most on cream and honey..

-- J.R.R. Tolkien, from The Hobbit, describing Beorn

The Beekeeper Hat is a companion piece to the Beekeeper Mittens, Cowl, and Boot Cuffs. It is worked in the round, using a dense slipped stitch pattern that mimics the shape of honey combs. The compressed nature of the slipped stitch pattern creates a thick, warm fabric, perfect for keeping warm in cold weather.

The hat has directions for three sizes: small (fits to 20”), medium (fits to 22”), and large (fits to 24”). In all cases, the actual finished hat circumference is slightly smaller that the indicated head size, creating a negative ease when worn. Instructions for the three sizes are indicated in the pattern as small (med, large).

The pattern is fully written and partially charted (brim and crown instructions are written only). The brim instructions are for working flat, but the brim may be worked in the round if preferred.

Materials Needed:

• 4mm (US 6) circular or dpn needles or size needed for gauge
• 3.75mm (US 5) circular or straight needles or one size smaller than gauge needle
• @180 (220, 260) yards worsted weight yarn (@220y/100g)
• 8 removable stitch markers
• Dpn or extra needle for three-needle bind off
• Darning needle for sewing seams and weaving ends

Optional Materials:

• End/start of round stitch marker
• Additional yarn for pom pom or faux fur pom pom

Gauge:
20 sts x 44 rows = 4” (10cm) in slipped stitch motif worked in the round.
Be certain to measure your gauge only after completing a 6th or 12th row of the stitch motif, as gathering the slipped bars greatly compresses the row gauge and slightly draws in the stitch gauge.