Another Shakespeare inspired pattern from the Scottish Play.

“Be lion-mettled, proud, and take no care
Who chafes, who frets, or where conspirers are.
Macbeth shall never vanquished be until
Great Birnam Wood to high Dunsinane Hill
Shall come against him.”

Macbeth first ignores this prophecy of his downfall. After all, who could transplant the entire forest? When Malcom, MacDuff, and the English armies cut down the forest of Birnam Wood to creep Wile-E-Coyote-esque up to Macbeth’s castle, Birnam Wood does indeed come to Dunsinane. And when I saw this stitch pattern with its leaves and branches, I thought a hat would be perfect for anybody wanting to impersonate a tree!

Skill Level: Intermediate— the lace is worked without rest rounds.

Materials: 135-165 yards of worsted weight yarn. The hats pictured all used one skein or less of Warmi by Amano.

Needles: US6 circular needle with a 16 inch cord (or one long enough for magic loop), US8 circular needle with a 16 inch cord (or one long enough for magic loop), and US8 DPNs for working the crown (if using magic loop, DPNs are unnecessary).

Tools: Scissors, Measuring tape, Tapestry needle

Gauge: 12 stitches per 2 inches in rib pattern when stretched.

Sizing: Small (Medium, Large) hats measure 15(17,19) inches around the brim when slightly stretched.