This hat got its name because of both the literal interpretation (lines crossing other lines) and because of the less literal. It uses techniques typically reserved for lace work, and instead creates a simultaneously warm and squishy, airy and pliable, piece of fabric. With fuzzy yarn, enough to fill the gaps, it’ll hold its own while out and about in below freezing weather. But with a smooth yarn that allows air through the stitch gaps, you’ll find your hat to be a medium warmth hat, suitable for early spring.

This will fit the average teenager to average adult woman with a slightly loose fit. If you want a toque style, it would easily fit an adult male with only an adaptation to the length of the body, which I describe within the pattern.

The stitch pattern itself isn’t difficult, and is easy enough to memorize. I would recommend this to an adventurous and confident beginner, but it should also be interesting and simple enough for intermediate knitters to easily enjoy. Advanced knitters may find this nice as simple TV knitting. I have embedded hyperlinks to videos or photographs that explain how to do some of the different techniques I mentioned, as well as included step by step photographs for my stitch pattern.

I used KnitPicks Palette, and KnitPicks Hawthorne for the hat sample. However, if you’d rather use something from your stash, anything in a fingering weight would be good. Keep in mind that the fiber and twist of yarn you use will affect how your pattern looks.

Despite the temptation to use a wool blend yarn for this pattern to be harder wearing, if you desire true warmth - use 100% wool. Alpaca would also work, as would pretty much any other animal fiber. Just be sure to avoid using anything with too much of a halo like mohair. It’ll conceal the stitch pattern which relies heavily on the texture to truly shine.

Gauge isn’t crucial to this pattern because it is supposed to be able to fit a wide variety of sizes (with small noted alterations). However, if you are substituting a fingering weight yarn, just make sure your gauge for ribbing matches that which is noted on the band, and you should be good to go. The body of the hat’s gauge is listed below.

You can work this hat in the round on either double pointed needles, magic loop, or two circulars. However you normally knit hats or items in the round!

Blocking isn’t important to the pattern, but if you give the finished hat a gentle soak, shape it on a flat surface and let it dry, you should be golden.

Sizes in Pattern:
• One size, with tips regarding alteration.

Materials:
• Approximately 230-250 yards of sock weight yarn
• (4) US size 3 Double Pointed Needles
• (4) US size 5 Double Pointed Needles
• Tapestry/Yarn Needle

Gauge:
Body of hat pattern on US 5s:
8 stitches & 10 rows in 1”