Starlight peppermints are a tradition in our house when we do our holiday baking. With this hat’s alternating red and white segments, we remember starlight mints, peppermint bark and candy canes on the tree. It is a great beginners’ knit.

This hat is worked flat, with short rows- the easy way- and grafted shut. For those not wanting to graft, the hat can be seamed shut. It is a quick knit and great practice for learning to do shortrows.

The sideways garter stitch is very stretchy and comfortable.

The hat can be worn as a beanie or with a brim. The brim takes an extra 10 stitches per row. To make the hat bigger around, extra shortrows are worked.

This pattern is great for showing off a long repeat self-striping yarn. No changing of yarn is required for a really quick hat with a minimum of finishing.

The pattern download includes a page of written instructions followed by a pictorial tutorial. The tutorial includes closeup pictures of the yarnover shortrow technique and grafting garter stitch together. Special thanks to hooks2needles for formating and editing.

Child: circumference is 17”; Length 9”
Adult: circumference 20-21”; length 10”