Stop by Ewetopia at the NY Sheep and Wool Festival 2022 to receive a coupon code for free pattern with purchase of yarn for this hat!

A ridiculously fun project - people really smile at this hat! It knits up easily in a weekend, on big needles, and is felted to size with stylish results.

Customize according to your feelings about bobbles - all over, or just a few. There are instructions to knit the bobbles while working the hat, or to crochet the bobbles after the hat is knit. The crochet bobbles come out very neat and round, even for novices - written and charted instructions are provided, plus a videolink.

Yarn: Sport weight 100% wool or alpaca-wool blend (NOT superwash). Quantities rounded to nearest 5 yds or m:

• Main color: 280 yds (260 m)
• Contrast: 30 yds (30 m) if all-over bobbles

Sample hats 2, 3, 4 & 5 were all knit in Ewetopia Ridge Sport:

• Pumpkin with Natural Dark Brown bobbles. Bobbles were crocheted.
• Salt & Pepper with bobbles in various red tones. Bobbles were crocheted.
• Scarlet with Charcoal bobbles (also used a companion strand of Ewetopia Silk Mohair in Scarlet). Bobbles were knit.
• Pheasant (reddish) with a single Natural Dark Brown bobble holding the feather.
• Charcoal Merino Worsted with Charcoal Silk Mohair companion thread, bobbles in West Fork (green) Merino Worsted with Misti Alpaca Lace companion thread (alas, Ewetopia Merino Worsted has been discontinued).

Can use fingering weight yarn held double:

• Top picture is in Biches et Buches Le Petit Lambswool held double, MC is
  Dark Blue Green, bobbles are Turquoise (80 g and 12.5 g)

Needles US 10 (6 mm) circular, long enough for magic loop. Alternatively a 20 inch (50 cm) circular and set of same size dpns to close the top.

Pre-felting gauge on samples ranged from 16.5-17.5 sts/4 inches (10 cm). Pre-felted size was 27.5-29 inches (70-73 cm).

More on yarn choices:
If you use a companion thread, like alpaca lace or kid mohair, go down 1/2 US size in needle (or 0.5 mm), as you will already have more fiber per stitch. The companion yarn can be brushed to produce a fuzzy halo.

Felting is a flexible and forgiving process. I knit samples in a single thread of Sport weight, in Sport with a companion thread, and in Worsted with a companion thread. All could be felted to fit. The instructions are for a single stitch count.

This pattern has been tech edited and test knit is underway.