Indie Untangled Toque:
This hat is designed to be a functional and simple way to learn and enjoy basic Brioche Knitting. Most English style knitters have trouble with Brioche, as instructions are more conducive to Continental knitters. The hat is named after the dyers I met this year (2021) at Indie Untangled. Yarns from Little Fox, Three Irish Girls and Sew Happy Jane were bought at the event. The Urth ones were yarns from stash. The Monokrom version is blocked differently.
YARN:
This Brioche Hat is designed to be knit in DK weight yarn. If you are substituting a yarn, I generally look for matching fiber and yards to grams for an equitable substitution. The Urth is a lighter DK than the Indie Dyed Yarns and varies in fiber and yards to grams. The yarns I used ARE a little different in weight, but brioche can be very forgiving & gauge a little tricky to read.
Yarn Choices:
This piece is knit in DK weight yarn. The Brioche hat is fairly forgiving with its negative ease. I would not fret but consider (based on your gauge) if you want your hat to be tighter or looser. I often charge ahead with a project without checking gauge. Risking pulling out my start to adjust needles. This will also make sure your gauge is true to the project as well. Gauges in different stitches, or in the round, or flat can be different.
Please also see Ravelry Projects page for other yarn options.
The Ravelry page also shows you what the testers used, and you can read their comments. Yarn weights (below) are what I used for my samples; yardages estimated based on labeled weights and yardage. Your needs will vary slightly.
“OAK LEAVES” HAT – Size LARGE – Dyer, Sew Happy Jane
KNIT Color: Sew Happy Jane, Delightful DK, 100% SW Merino, color “Mine Shaft 2.0” 100g – 231 yds (weighed 112g)
~ HAT 45g / 95 yards - Left Over 67 grams
PURL Color: Sew Happy Jane, Delightful DK, 100% SW Merino, color “Comfort” 100g – 231 yds (weighed 111g)
~ HAT 45g / 95 yards - Left Over 66 grams
“GREAT GREYS” HAT – Size LARGE, 1” extra height, split in rib and brioche – Dyer, Little Fox
KNIT Color: Little Fox, Vulpine, 80% SW Merino / 10% Cashmere / 10% Nylon, color “Raven’s Wing” 100g – 231 yds (weighed 104g)
~ HAT 49g / 114 yards - Left Over 55 grams
PURL Color: Little Fox, Vulpine, 80% SW Merino / 10% Cashmere / 10% Nylon, color “Tarnish” 100g – 231 yds (weighed 105g)
~ HAT 45g / 104 yards - Left Over 60 grams
“HOLIDAY BRIGHTS” HAT – Size MEDIUM – Dyer, Three Irish Girls
KNIT Color: Three Irish Girls, Springvale DK, 100% SW Merino 100g, Color “Thank you & Good Night” – 100g / 270 yds (weighed 122g)
~ HAT 41g / 110 yards - Left Over 81 grams
PURL Color: Three Irish Girls, Springvale DK, 100% SW Merino 100g, Color “Like a Gefilta Fish…” – 100g / 270 yds (weighed 123g)
~ HAT 95g / 132 yards - Left Over 74 grams
“UNEEK” HAT – Size MEDIUM – Urth Yarns
KNIT Color: Urth Yarn, Uneek - DK, 100% SW Merino, color “6020” 100g – 300yds (my cake was 99 grams)
~ HAT 28g / 84 yards - Left Over 69 grams
PURL Color: Urth Yarn, Monokrom - DK, 100% SW Merino, color “6067” 100g – 300yds (my cake was 98 grams)
~ HAT 28g / 84 yards - Left Over 70 grams
“BERET BLOCKED” HAT – Size LARGE – Urth Yarns
KNIT & PURL Color: Urth Yarn, Monokrom - DK, 100% SW Merino, color “6067” 100g – 300yds (my cake was 70 grams)
~ HAT 61g / 183 yards - Left Over 9 grams
NEEDLES & GAUGE:
US 6.0’s/4.0mm rounds or dpn’s.
I like using rounds with longer cables, employing magic loop.
GAUGE uses US 6’s/4.0mm in BRIOCHE before BLOCKING.
BRIOCHE GAUGE 21 sts to 4” and 24 Row PAIRS to 4”
SIZES:
This hat is knit primarily in BRIOCHE. The hat ribbing & brioche will look small yet stretch a lot; lots of negative ease.
The DK hat has a lot of discretion in fit. You can wear it larger and looser, or tighter and more fitted. Unlike the heavier yarns, I find it much more flexible to your style. The height of the original (9” high) can easily be worn pretty large, but still fit a smaller head by pushing it back for more of a slouchy look. The HARD BLOCKED Beret is not listed here.
Approximate Circumference XS: 16”, S: 18”, M: 20”, L: 22”, XL: 24”
Sizes are designed to have a LOT more stretch to them and can also be blocked larger if desired.
Height of all hats 9”.
The height can easily be extended by increasing the rows of RIB at the beginning
or the number of BRIOCHE rows before decreasing.
Please consider that loose fit and more height can cause a hat to either fall into your eyes or off the back of your head.
NOTIONS:
Stitch Markers (less than 20) to mark the beginning of the round (BOR) and to assist in the decrease section. Scissors for snipping yarn. A yarn sewing needle for tucking end.