Star

Knitting
December 2014
Fingering (14 wpi) ?
32 stitches and 32 rows = 4 inches
US 2 - 2.75 mm
US 3 - 3.25 mm
One Size
English
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FINISHED MEASUREMENTS
Brim Circumference: 18.5 inches

Body Circumference: 26 inches

MATERIALS

Jamieson’s Spindrift Shetland 100% wool, 115 yds per 25g ball

7645 Salmon; 1 ball
575 Lipstick; 1 ball
587 Madder; 1 ball
665 Bluebell; 1 ball
676 Saphire; 1 ball
726 Prussian Blue; 1 ball
425 Mustard; 1 ball
120 Eesit/White; 1 ball

Recommended needle sizes

16-inch US #2/2.75mm circular needle

16 or 24-inch US #3/3.25mm circular needle (Note: I personally prefer the 24-inch because if the stitches can fit in the longer needle it indicates that my gauge is right; the finished hat will fit my head).

US #3/3.25mm needles for the crown decrease: DPNs or 2 short circulars

Notions

Stitch marker

Tapestry needle

Optional: Dinner plate, 10.5 inches in diameter for blocking

Star is designed and made in the traditional Fair Isle Tam style, with fingering weight Shetland wool. Its star shape crown is formed by centered double decrease stitches (CDD) traveling straight up to the last round of the knitting.

Star is a sister pattern of Tourbillion, a pattern published in the December 2014 issue of Knitty. For the Tourbillion hat, I chose to decrease the stitches toward the left side with SSK. The end result is a swirl that twists clockwise. Try both patterns and see which crown shaping you like better.

Like Tourbillion, Star has an Estonian double-strand cast-on, which makes a decorative and elastic ridge -- my favourite cast-on method for hats, gloves and socks! Also, the charts for Tourbillion and Star are interchangeable. Feel free to use the swirly crown shaping on Star, and vice versa, to get four variations! I can’t wait to see your version!