It was not built on the shore, though there were a few huts and buildings there, but right out on the surface of the lake… A great bridge made of wood ran out to where on huge piles made of forest trees was built a busy wooden town, not a town of elves but of Men, who still dared to dwell here under the shadow of the distant dragon-mountain.

-- from “the Hobbit” by J.R.R. Tolkien

The Laketown hat is a handy hat to have for quickly changing weather. The double-knitted brim forms two layers of warmth over the wearer’s ears when the hat is worn slouch style, but if temperatures drop suddenly the brim can be flipped up to add another warm layer on a snugger fitting watch cap. The swirling wave pattern of the brim is inspired by the eddies and clashing waves caused by water flowing from the mouths of the Forest and Running Rivers into the Long Lake on either side of Laketown.

The pattern is written for sport weight yarn, but substitutions of heavy fingering weight yarn would also result in a satisfactory product.

Materials Needed:

• @150 {190} yards main/body colour sport weight yarn
• @60 {75} yards contrast colour sport weight yarn
• 3mm (US size 3) AND 3.5mm (US size 4) 40cm (16”) circular needles or sizes needed for gauge
• end/start round stitch marker plus 3 {4} additional stitch markers to mark repeats

Gauge:
20 cells (facing stitches in double knitted fabric) by 34 rows = 10cm (4”) in double-knitting
20 stitches by 34 rows = 10cm (4”) in stockinette

a note on gauge
Because many people find that their gauge for double-knitting is looser than their gauge for stockinette, two needle sizes are listed. Do take a bit of time to swatch to ensure your gauge between the two knitting styles is consistent.