This quick hat was inspired by a sea urchin shell at the Paris Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle. Sea urchins are members of the order Echinoida, and are characterised by five-fold symmetry. Underneath their very prickly exteriors, the shells have a nubbly texture that immediately suggested seed stitch. This hat is worked from the bottom up, starting with a tubular cast on. The body of the hat is worked in seed stitch with five equally spaced columns of knit stitches and yarn overs that mimic the symmetry of the urchin shell. Crown decreases are concealed along these vertical columns.

SKILLS NEEDED
Knitting, purling, increasing and decreasing, tubular cast on (pattern includes links to a video tutorial, but not extensive directions for the cast on)

SIZES
Small (medium, large, extra large), to fit head circumference of up to 18 (20, 22, 24) in/45.5 (51, 56, 61) cm. Actual hat circumference is 16 (18, 20, 22) in/40.5 (45.5, 51, 56) cm.

YARN
Pattern requires approximately 95 (115, 135, 165) yds/87 (105, 123, 151) m worsted weight yarn.

NEEDLES
US 5/3.75 mm and US 6/4.0 mm double pointed needles or 16 in/40 cm circular needle.

GAUGE
20 sts/24 rows per 4 in/10 cm in seed stitch on larger needles.

Pattern includes both written stitch pattern directions and charts.