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“We make plans for our lives and set goals to get us there. However, as they say, life is what happens while you’re out making plans.”- Broken Reflection Mitts by Brenda Schack

Turning the Broken Reflection Mitts around in my hand, a new pattern emerged. It’s thrilling to create something new from the old bits … until it’s not. This time I needed a bigger canvass, a hat. Although the hat was nearly done, I was disappointed. An unanticipated and beastly shape perched itself on top of the crown. Little bugger sneered at me. When I put the hat on, it looked like a starfish was sucking my brains out. Ugh, start over? No! I will Just Wait For It. The answer will come, all is not lost. I waited. Turns out, I was so wed to the original idea that I couldn’t see what was right in front of me. As my “vision cleared” I realized I created a hat that can be worn as a fitted beanie or a slouchy with a textural checkerboard design and a flower like crown. Smiles ensued. I was proud of my hat. All I had to do was Just Wait For It.

CONSTRUCTION
The Just Wait For It Hat is worked bottom up and in the round. It begins with 2 x 2 ribbing. Alternating squares of elongated caliper cables and stockinette stitch create a checkerboard pattern on the body. The crown decreases create a flower like shape and are made in the fields of stockinette and hidden in the cables. The hat be worked on circular or double pointed needles as you prefer. The length of the hat is customizable and two sizes are available. Because of the construction the hat can be worn as a slouchy or as a beanie with the brim turned up.

Instructions are provided so that you can easily work all the cables without a cable needle. The pattern includes written instructions, charts, and a schematic. Working from the charts is optional. Pattern also includes detailed and complete instructions for the swatch. This pattern has been tech edited and test knit.

Skills Needed: K2tog, ssk, ktbl, p2tog, slipping stitches, magic loop. Instructions provided for the following: elongated st, cables without cable needle, stretchy long tail cast on, and two-end long tail cast on.

Sizes: S/M (M/L); 15.5 (17.75)” / 39 (45) cm. Designed to be worn with 4.0 - 6.5” / 10 - 16.5 cm negative ease at the brim, after blocking.
Fits, Relaxed: 20 - 22” / 51 - 56 cm; (22 - 23” / 56 - 58 cm)
Depth: 9” / 23 cm; (10” / 25 cm)
Negative Ease At Brim: 4.5 - 6.5” / 11 - 6.5 cm; (4 - 5” / 10 - 13 cm) Brim Length; 2” / 5 cm; (3” / 8 cm)
Picking A Size: : Choose the size closest to actual head circumference in chart above. For size 22”’ / 56 cm, pick the size based on amount of negative ease preferred at the brim 6.5 (4)” / 16.5 (10) cm.

Yardage:
One Color: 124 - 147 (165 - 201) yds / (111 - 134) (151 -184) m.
Two Color: MC 79 - 92 (120 - 146) yds / 201 - 234 (184 - 214) m; CC (optional) 45 - 55 yds / 41 - 50 m.

Yarn Substitution: Although any DK weight can be used, indie dyer yarns are preferable as they tend to be on the heavier than commercial weight yarns. Tonal, solid, lightly speckled, and solid yarns work best. Heavily Speckled and variegated yards can be used in the crown, but not in the remainder of the hat.

Needles: US #5 (3.75 mm) is recommended or size to obtain gauge. Either 16” (41 cm) circular needle for the body and a set of 5 corresponding DPNs for the crown, or 32” (80 cm) circular needle for magic loop.

Gauge: 24 st x 28 rnds = 4” / 10cm worked in the round and blocked in cabled checker pattern; 23.5 st x 33 rnds = 4” / 10 cm worked in the round and blocked in in 2 x 2 ribbing; A different gauge will affect drape, yardage required, and size. Swatch in the round in the cabled checker pattern for an accurate gauge.

Notions Required: Tapestry needle, unique BOR stitch marker, 6 stitch markers, scrap yarn, cable needle if desired.