This is a cozy hat based on a traditional design used by Northern California Indian tribes, the Yurok, Karuk and Hupa, mostly located on or near the Klamath River. The design is an open hand or open fingers. Some sources call it “frog fingers.” Northern California tribes make traditional designs in baskets designed for many uses, including exquisite basket hats. I can’t weave those beautiful basket hats, but I can knit!

You can adjust the size by changing the size of your needles and/or yarn, or add or remove a repeat of the design. It’s an 18-stitch repeat and I got 6 stitches per inch in the sample hat. After blocking the hat is 22 inches around at the ear level.

The pattern includes references so you can find out more about these exquisite hats, and the tribes that make them. You can also see these hats in local and national museums. Or, just make your own in yarn!

This pattern uses a main color, contrasting color and black or dark blue. You can use any color combinations, of course, but think about using natural colors such as terra cotta, sienna/burnt sienna, ochre/burnt ochre, green, blue, cream or tan.

ERRATUM: On the Abbreviations list I forgot to add the final step to the definition of SSK: slip the next two stitches, one at a time, knitwise, to the right needle. Then insert the left needle through the front of the two stitches and knit them together. This is the same as knitting the two stitches together through the back loop.