I have a confession. I spent way to much of the last year stealing away and watching Downton Abbey and Boardwalk Empire. While I cringed with the Crawleys at their tragedies, I swooned at the luscious stylings of WWI Europe and the astute Mrs. Schroeder. This design is born of those early 20th century styles combined with my obsession to reduce waste. This hat does not require much yarn. In fact both my main color yarn and my contrast color yarns were remnants of other projects.

Adding beads not only gave the whole design a little added sparkle, it gave me the chance to further develop my own way of pushing them securely to the front of the work with a purl stitch. The cast on was another challenge. I chose to incorporate the beads between twisted half hitches. Using the knotted side at the front it creates an added detail that mirrors the beads.

Includes Beaded Cast On Photo Tutorial

Skill Level: Experienced, but a good first beading project

Techniques: Circular Knitting
Beaded Knitting
I-cord Knitting
Eyelets

Materials: 120 – 150 yards Fingering weight
Yarn (snow) Main Color (MC)
Scrap yarn (orange) Contrast Color
(CC)
Pictured yarn is Cascade Heritage
Solids (snow) and Cascade 220
Superwash sport Tangerine – 826

Beading needle

417 (455), 6/0 seed beads in matching Contrast Color Shown - (Miyuki #1131), #5 triangles

Needle: 16” US Size 2 circular needle
1 set of US Size 2 double pointed
needles

Gauge: 28 sts/36 rounds = 4” in stockinette stitch

Finished Measurements: Crown to brim: 8 inches. Circumference: 21.5 inches 23.5 inches

Sizes: Small, Large