This whimsical hat is inspired by folk-and-novelty themed patterns of the 1940s and 1950s. It features little fellows called nisse, tiny household spirits from Scandinavian folklore, but you might know them as gnomes. They’re helpfully harvesting carrots in the garden.

This hat is a little bit spicy, with up to 4 colors stranded in a row in the first half of the pattern. But once you get to their hats, it’s back to only 2 colors at most. Then it’s smooth sailing up through the crown, with rays of sunshine featured in the decreases. It evokes the warm summer sun shining down on the garden!

Yarn
1 ball of Quince and Co. Finch (100% Wool; 221yd / 202m per 50g skein) in each the following 10 colors:

• Cypress (dark green)
• Nasturtium (orange)
• Snap Pea (light green)
• Gingerbread (brown)
• Bird’s Egg (light blue)
• River (dark blue)
• Apricot (peach)
• Egret (white)
• Winesap (red)
• Goldfinch (yellow)

If substituting yarn, you will need 25g or less of 10 colors of fingering weight / 4 ply.

Gauge
28 sts / 32 rounds = 4” / 10cm in stranded stockinette using 3.25mm (US 3) needles, or size needed to obtain gauge

Needles
2.75mm (US 2) needles (for ribbing)
3.25mm (US 3) needles (for body of hat)

Size
One size. Circumference is 20.5” / 52cm. Will stretch to comfortably fit head circumferences up to 24” / 61cm. If a slightly larger or smaller size is desired, simply go up or down a needle size from needles that give you correct gauge.

Construction
Hat is worked in the round in stranded stockinette, with centered double deceases to shape the crown. Please note that there are several rows that include 3 or 4 colors per row, which is discussed in the pattern.

Tech Editor: Joeli Caparco