If self-striping yarn on its own isn’t exciting enough, why not add some fun texture and a dramatic crown to spice up your wardrobe? This slouchy beanie, named for the pincushion cactus it resembles, is the perfect use for a skein of self-striping sock yarn that is perhaps too pretty to hide in your shoes. Worked in the round from the bottom up, it features a hemmed brim for fit and extra warmth, a fun textured bubble stitch, and eye-catching decreases in the form of pleats at the crown.

To knit this hat, you need to know how to:

• knit and purl in the round,
• join live stitches with a cast-on edge,
• knit into a stitch below the one on the needle, and
• work an ssk decrease.

The hat can be worked on any needles used to work small circumferences in the round, but for the pleated decreases, an additional two double-pointed needles are required. A photo tutorial also is included for this special decrease.

Yarn requirements by size: approximately 250 (300, 360) yds./229 (274.5, 329) m

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