The Big Hats collection is a group of quick hats knitted out of thicker weight yarns.

• For the experienced knitter, they are a superfast project when you need a quick gift, or because you want to spoil yourself before the cold weather sets in.
• For the beginner, these hats come with video tutorials to help you master some basic knitting techniques. The big yarn means that you will see results fast and have a lovely finished object in no time. I also hope to decode some of the phrases and terminology used in knitting patterns that might confuse new knitters.

All these skills you learn will be like a collection of little gems.

Watch my introduction to the collection https://youtu.be/aijLUOtJPqs

Pattern description and options

Turquoise Wisdom builds on the skills that you have already mastered. I suggest that you be able to knit and purl confidently, and then try this hat. It has a simple pattern but works with some twisted stitches.

The hat starts with a German Twisted cast on or a Knit-on cast on, there are video tutorials for both of these cast on methods. The German Twisted cast on is not the simplest cast on for beginners, but part of getting a finished object that you love, is about using the right type of technique in the right place. For a hat, you need a stretchy cast on! Nothing worse than a hat with a cast on that is too tight and so you don’t wear it.

This cast on takes a bit of practice but I believe that it is well worth the effort to learn. Watch the video, practice and be patient with yourself. Fortunately, the cast on number of stitches is fairly small for these hats, so you can just try again if you don’t get it right the first time.

If you can’t get the German Twisted Cast on right, that is okay. You have the option to do a regular knitted-on cast on but you will need to go up a needle size so that your edge has some stretch to fit onto a head. This may produce a cast on edge that is not quite as neat, but do not let the cast on stop you from progressing to the rest of the hat. You can always try the stretchy cast on with another hat, once you have built up your confidence.

This hat has instructions for a twisted rib, but you can use a 1x1(knit 1, purl 1) rib too if you prefer. You can use either types of ribbing in any of the hats.

The videos will demonstrate how to do the simple 2 row pattern. It does involve some twisted stitches to get the rick rack rib effect. It can be tricky to remember which of the 2 pattern rounds to do next so I have included instructions on how to check the row below to see where you are in your pattern.

Choose your hat length, do you want a more fitted beanie style hat or a slouchier hat. Once you have your desired length, I will have included some suggestions in the pattern, then do the crown decreases. Once your hat is finished you can decide if you want to add a pom pom to the top.

Material

Needles**
6 mm / US 10 circular needle (either 40 cm / 16” hat circular needle or a 100 cm cable for magic loop)
and
8 mm / US 11 circular needle (either a 40 cm / 16” hat circular needle or a 100 cm cable for magic loop. If you use a hat circular you will need double pointed needles for the top decreases)

Yarn
Chunky weight yarn
100g: 220 m / 240 yds

Sample 1 knitted in Deramores, Woolpaca Chunky 80% Merino 20% Baby Alpaca in the Lagoon Colourway

Sample 2 knitted in Debbie Bliss Andes 65% baby Alpaca 35% Mulberry Silk (held double)

Yardage
Fitted Version
Child / Teen: 50 g (110 m / 120 yds)
Adult Medium: 60 g (132 m / 120 yds)
Adult Large: 70g (154 m / 116 yds)

Slouchy Version
Child / Teen: 80 g (176 m / 140 yds)
Adult Medium: 90 g (198 m / 158 yds)
Adult Large: 106 g (220 m / 175 yds)

Gauge
18 stitches and 19 rows over 10cm / 4” in pattern, blocked.

Size
Child/Teen, (Adult Medium, Large)
to fit: 47 - 50 cm (51 - 56 cm, 57 -61 cm) / 18.5 - 19.5” (20 - 22, 22.5 - 24”)

Finished un-stretched dimensions:
Circumference
40 cm (45 cm, 50 cm) / 15.5” (17.5”, 19.5”)

Length from crown to rib:
22 cm / 10” (fitted beanie)
32 cm / 12.5” (slouchy beanie)