Inspiration for the name of this hat came as we were driving through Turnagain Pass for our end of summer pilgrimage to one of those iconic Alaska locations, the Homer Spit. Early Autumn sunshine glints off of birch leaves, turning them silver. There is a definite crispness to the air that wasn’t there last week. Here is a hat for the first whisperings of Fall. This hat is knit in the round, top down, forming a lace crown, that then branches out into a bold geometric pattern using twisted stitches alternating with a lace panel.

Skill Level - moderate, circular cast on (recommend Emily Oker’s cast on), lace, working in the round, magic loop or dpn’s

Materials - US 2 DPN’s and 16 in circulars, or 40 in circulars if use magic loop method.
Yarn - Blue Sky metalico; flint 1614; no dye shimmering blend of 50% baby alpaca/50% raw silk; one skein= 50 g/147y, required somewhat less than one skein. Misc - stitch markers, row counter, tapestry needle

Gauge - Unblocked; Completed crown (rows 1-34 of Crown Chart) ~ 7 inch diameter: In the round, one repeat of Body Chart, = 34 st x 10 rows = ~ 5 1/2” x 1”. Recommend changing needles or yarn to get required gauge or to adjust size.

Finished Dimensions - Circumference 19.5 inches (49.5 cm) at brim, to fit 21-23.5” (53-60 cm) head circumference. Final fit is “very slightly slouchy”