Although global climate change is making winter hats obsolete in my neighborhood, I still knitted a couple this year in hopes that I might get some winter. My original goal was to make a stocking cap with a seed stitch body to go with a long scarf I had made previously. The initial plan for the stocking crown was to decrease 1 inch for every 1 inch of length, but this would have required 3 skeins of yarn and I only had 2 (and no desire to hit the craft store for more during the winter shopping rush). So I altered the crown stocking to decrease 1 inch every half inch.

The stocking crown flops over nicely without being in the way, and even with the pompom I think it is suitable for either men or women. My pattern came out fitting a bit more loosely than I like, but I believe a good hot water wash will fix that.

I friend saw me working on the hat and said he wanted one just like it. Not sure I could duplicate the first, I decided to make a variation. The second hat does not rise to a point but flattens off after decreasing to half the original diameter. I also substituted garter stitch (1 round knit, next round purl) instead of seed stitch. This had good and bad results. The body is just as thick and warm, with the pebbly texture, and it was easier to keep the pattern going through the decrease rounds, but it left a false seam at the join.

The second hat looks very handsome worn with the ribbing turned up and the crown tucked in, like a toque or garrison cap (see the link for garrison cap). Of course it can also be worn standing up, or made to be funny by adding pompoms at each corner.