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A classic gingham hat in a big fluffy yarn with a jumbo pompom to match. Happy birthday to me!!!

Sizes:
One Size: 18”/ 46 cm circumference, 9.5” / 24cm length w/folded brim

This size will comfortably accommodate most heads due to the stretchy nature of the ribbed brim. If you want to make a larger hat you can go up in needle size to adjust the gauge. Alternate gauge suggestions are provided in the gauge section below.
For reference, I have a relatively large head (24.75”/63 cm circumference,) and this size fits me snugly but comfortably.

Suggested Yarn:
Dimond Laine Big Birdie (79% Baby Alpaca/21% Silk, 174 yds/100g, Aran Weight)
MC (Darker Color): Plaid is my Favorite Color
CC (Lighter Color): Taffy

Suggested Needles:
Ribbing:
US 7 (4.5mm) 16” circular needles or preferred small
circumference needles
Hat Body:
US 8 (5.0mm) 16” circular needles or preferred small
circumference needles

Gauge:
18 sts & 20 rows in 4”x 4”, stranded colorwork in stockinette stitch in the round, blocked.
To size up for a larger hat, go up a needle size or two to work at a gauge of 16 sts per 4” for a 20” / 51 cm hat.

Yardage:
Yardage estimates are for hat only. If you are going to make a pompom, add 70 yds/ 64 m to the MC estimate.
MC (darker color): 100 yds / 91 m
CC (lighter color): 45 yds / 41 m

Materials:
darning needle, scrap yarn (optional for tubular cast-on), jumbo pompom maker (optional if making pompom)

Techniques: two-color stranded colorwork, knitting in the round, decreasing, wet or steam blocking, reading from a knitting chart, tubular cast-on (optional), making a pompom (optional)

Construction: hat is knit from brim up with decreases at crown