Like many yarn lovers, I’m always hesitant to get rid of partial skeins of yarn leftover from other projects, even when those leftovers on their own are not enough to make anything substantial. But if you combine a couple of partial skeins, you usually find you have enough for a small accessory. This hat was borne from just such resourcefulness, with a bit of stranded colorwork thrown in to make things interesting.

This hat is knit in the round from the brim up and incorporates a stranded colorwork pattern (charted only) to jazz up the transition from one color to the other. The amount of slouch in the hat can be easily adjusted by changing the number of plain rounds after the stranded pattern is complete and before the crown decreases are started. The pattern also includes some notes on color dominance to help make your stranded work really pop.

To knit this pattern, you need to know how to:

• work in the round, using knit and purl stitches;
• increase stitches (m1);
• read and work from a colorwork chart; and
• do simple decreases (k2tog).

Finished measurements:
Circumference: approximately 18.5 (21, 23.5) in./46.5 (52.5, 58.5) cm
Length: approximately 8.75 (9.75, 10.75) in./22 (25, 27.5) cm

Yarn estimates by size:
Color 1: 80 (90, 100) yds./73 (82.5, 91.5) m
Color 2: 95 (125, 160) yds./87 (114.5, 146.5) m
Note: Because the pompom is optional, the amount of yarn needed for one is not included in these estimates

Notions needed: one stitch marker, yarn needle to weave in ends

Pattern layout by WeirdyPants
Tech editing by eledixon