This is a requested 6-color variation of a rainbow hat that had 7 colors (https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/rainbow-hat-14) . Another difference is that the only crochet in this pattern is optional – just a chain you can coil around for a top button if you choose. I’ve sized it for a 20-24” head (it’s quite stretchy), but you can make it smaller or larger by changing needle sizes, yarn weight, or tension. You can also make the hat longer or shorter by knitting more or fewer rows before starting the decreases. My gauge with the recommended yarn is 8.5 stitches and 12.5 rows to 2 inches.

For the vertical stripes, the hat uses intarsia, with a technique from Christina’s blog (http://www.oharethey.com/blog/intarsia-in-the-round-techn...) for joining it into a round.

You’ll need about 9 yards of each of the rainbow colored yarns plus about 1/3 of a skein of the gray. If you’re buying the yarn just for this hat, you’ll have a lot left over, but it is a handy yarn to have around. Or knit several hats!