I can remember my Great Aunt bringing us some Sweet Alyssum flowers as a gift, purple and white, and how seeing these flowers pop-up in the most unexpected places brought me such joy as a little girl. I can remember the purple flowers growing amidst the grass and popping up in pavement cracks - I was hoping to capture that element of wonder and joy with this design.

“If the fish could but listen to the thoughts of its observers who stand over its domain, it could learn of everything else--of the trees and the sky, the flowers, the source of the water that feed its pond and the destiny of the water that is drained from its pond. It is the same for you. You could learn what lies beyond your domain, for like the fish, you live within a whole universe, not within a little pond.” Secret 1

Materials:
• One 3mm / US size 2.5 circular needle, 40cm / 16” in length, or size needed to meet the required gauge.
• One 2.75mm / US size 2 circular needle, 40cm / 16” in length, or a US size smaller than needle size used to obtain gauge.
• One 3mm / US size 2.5 circular needle, at least 80cm / 32” in length for magic loop or one set of 3mm / US size 2.5 DPNs, or size needed to meet the required gauge.
• Optional: Stitch markers, 9 (10), one of which is used to mark the beginning of round.
• Tapestry needle for sewing in threads and blocking materials.
• Fingering weight yarn in two colours, approximately 135m (150m) / 148 yds (164 yds) of the main colour (yellow) and approximately 100m (125m) or 109 yds (137 yds) of the contrast colour (purple). Sample shown with Malabrigo Sock in colourways Frank Ochre and Sabiduria.
• Optional: Pom pom. Sample pom pom is a Mix and Match TOFT Alpaca pom pom, approximately 11cm / 4.5” in diameter, shown in colour amethyst.

Gauge:
33 stitches and 38 rows = 10cm / 4” in stranded knitting using the colourwork chart from page 3, worked in the round and blocked. Knitting to gauge is important to ensure that your knitted item is the correct size, and to ensure that yardage requirements match those stated in the pattern.

Size:
Two sizes: 1 (2) – 43.5 cm (48.5cm) / 17.5” (19.5”) in circumference, measured flat at the widest part of the hat. The hat measures 25cm (26.5cm) / 10” (10.5”) from the crown to cast on edge, measured without the pom pom. Sample shown in larger size. Intended to be worn with 7.5cm – 12.5cm / 3” – 5” negative ease.

This pattern has been tech edited and test knitted.