Modified Barley Hat to match my Mara Shawl - only garter stitch and with a little slouch.

Modifications:

Cast on 96 sts as in pattern for size L (fits head 23 inch/58,42cm; size M fits head 22 inch/55,88cm), using DK weight yarn and needles US 4 /3.5mm (shortest cable), joining for working in the round is hell as the cable is too short (can’t barely move my needles), but the 40cm cable is too long for just 96 sts. Switched to 40cm cable in round 2 or 3 when everything was more stretchy.

Establish Ribbing:
Knit k2,p2-ribbing for 12 rounds/rows and then k1,p1-ribbing for 7 rounds/rows to match border of Mara-Shawl.

Knit Body:
Switched to US 6/4mm needles after the ribbing. and knit alternating Purl-/Knit-rounds until piece measured 8.5 inches (… rounds / rows) from cast on (slouchy enough for my head, don’t need 9.5 inch like recommended in pattern for slouchy hat). Starting body with a Knit round.

Decreases:

• Knit setup round: K14, k2tog, PM around (= 6 equal sections divided by 6 markers)
• Round 1: Purl to end
• Round 2: Knit to 2 sts before marker, k2tog around
• Repeat rounds 1 and 2 two more times = 3 in total.
• Switched to DPNS when beginning the 3 repeat of rounds 1 and 2.

That is, decrease in the knit rows and purl the purl rows without decrease. Ends up with 72 sts in total (12 sts per section).

• Next round: Purl to 2 sts before marker, p2tog around
• Next round: Knit to 2 sts before marker, k2tog around

That is, decrease in every purl and knit row.

Repeated last 2 rounds until 6 (?) sts remain (I didn’t get that far, I cut the yarn earlier, couldn’t knit anymore with all the DPNS-needles. I think it were ca. 5 sts/needle left when I cut the yarn and drew the yarn tail through the remaining live sts and pulled to close the top of the hat.)