My dad grew up in Dorchester, Massachusetts, on Melbourne Street. My son went to B.C. High on Morrissey Boulevard in Dorchester, my Irish grandfather fiddled on WBZ in Boston and his recordings reside in the Irish Archives at Boston College and Dorchester was his home. I passed by the famous Gas Tanks everyday on the Red Line headed into work. As a matter of fact, I got engaged in front of those Gas Tanks. We referred to Dorcheter as “Dot” for short. So when I was looking for a name for a polka dot hat, well, you can guess the rest … (dot, dot, dot)

This hat has some plain dots and some vibrant dots. I like the way they play off each other. A tonal or self-striping yarn could be substituted for the white to add more visual interest to the dots. Worked in the round in worsted weight yarn, corrugated rib and a TopDot, stuffed with bits of leftover yarn. Three sizes, Small Child, Child and Adult.

Skills used in the hat: working in the round, carrying 2 colors on a round.

Finished Measurements
Sizes: Small Child ( Child, Adult )
Finished Length: 9 ( 10, 10 ) ins - not including TopDot
Finished Circumference: 17 ( 19, 21 ) ins

Yarn
Cascade 220 (100% Wool; 220 yards/100g) or any yarn that meets gauge.
150 ( 165, 180 ) yds Main Color (MC) 9452 Summer Sky Heather (in photo)
50 ( 60, 70 ) yds Contrast Color (CC1) 8505 White (in photo)

Needles

US 7 (4.5mm) 24 inch circular needles, or size to obtain gauge
US 7 (4.5mm) DPNs same size as needles above
US 6 (4.25 mm) 24” circular needles OR 1 size smaller than above needles.

Notions

Seam Needle

Stitch Markers
Scrap yarn to stuff TopDot

Gauge
21 sts and 26 rows = 4” in stranded St st in the round on larger needles, blocked.