Laura's Loop: Heel Stitch Hat

It happens to the best of us... You wander into a yarn shop, anxious, antsy, raring to knit, but then, you are faced with it: the Wall. It's packed full of vibrantly colored fiber, cubbies upon cubbies of yarn, arranged to inspire. But instead of igniting direction, this vertical display of skeins causes, what I like to call (in a hushed voice), Knitter's Wall (gasp!).

It's the knitter's version of writer's block. You find yourself standing there, staring aimlessly, hands thrown in the air, asking yourself, asking the wall, "What should I knit?!?!?!"

Although you can't find Knitter's Wall in any psychology books, I don't need to tell you, it is a real affliction. The good news... there's a solution! All you need is a warm-up project, a project to get those finger muscles moving and knitting neurons shooting. Something that's sparks your interest, grabs your attention, and gets you back into your knitting groove.  The even better news... I've got just the thing for you! The Heel Stitch Hat. 

Heel Stitch is traditionally used for, you guessed it, the heel of a sock. Designed for its durability and cushioning effect, I knew such a striking texture and impressive loft would make up an incredibly handsome and cozy hat.  For gorgeous stitch definition and sumptuous warmth, I used Swan's Island's beautiful Worsted weight organic merino, but most any worsted weight yarn will suit! Once you've completed it, you'll have a hat to keep the cool air out and Knitter's Wall at bay!  

Materials

• 1 skein of Swan's Island's Worsted Weight organic merino. I just adore Swan's Island yarn, but so many of Purl Soho's worsted weight yarns would work for this pattern: Anzula's for Better or Worsted, Blue Sky's Cotton, Blue Sky's Techno, Brooklyn Tweed's Shelter, Cascade's 220, Cascade's Eco Cloud, Cascade's Eco Duo, Lornas Laces' Shepherd Worsted, Madeline Tosh's Tosh Merino, Manos' Maxima and Spud and Chloe's Sweater. When substituting yarn be careful to consider the differences in yardage between skeins. It takes approximately 80 (105, 135, 160, 185) yards for the Baby (Toddler, Kid, Small Adult, Large Adult) hats.
• A US #8 16" Circular Needle, or size required to achieve gauge
• A set of US # 8 6" Doublepoints, or size requited to achieve gauge
• Stitch Markers, 7 total
• A Tapestry Needle

The Pattern

Gauge

6 stitches = 1 inch in Heel stitch

Heel Stitch (for even number or stitches)

Round 1: *Slip 1, K1, repeat from * to end

Round 2: Knit

Finished Sizes

Baby Hat: 14 1/3-inch circ, to fit most babies 3 to 15 months.

Toddler Hat: 15 2/3-inches circ, to fit most toddlers 12 months to 3 years.

Kit Hat: 17-inch circ, to fit most kids from toddler to pre-teen.

Small Adult: 18 1/3-inch circ, to fit most adult women.

Large Adult: 20 1/3-inch circ, to fit most adult men.

If in doubt about which size to make, measure the circumference of the recipient's head, subtract 2 inches and make the hat that is closest to that number.

The different sizes are given in the pattern as Baby (Toddler, Kid, Small Adult, Large Adult).

Pattern Notes

The first Stitch Marker you place is to indicate the beginning of the round. I find it useful for this marker to be a different type or color from the other six stitch markers which will indicate decreases. Towards the end of the pattern, you are to remove the first, third, forth and sixth stitch marker. This is not counting the beginning of round stitch marker.

When slipping 1, slip the stitch purl-wise, with yarn in back.

Begin

Using the US size 8 circular needle, cast on 86 (94, 102, 110, 122) stitches. Place a marker and join for working in the round, being careful not to twist the stitches.

Round 1: *Slip 1, K1, repeat from * to end

Round 2: Knit

Repeat Rounds 1 and 2 until the piece measures 4 1/4 (5 1/4, 6 1/4, 7 1/4, 8) inches from the rolled edge, ending with Round 1.

Set-up Round: k12 (14, 14, 16, 16), place marker, k9 (9, 11, 11, 13), place marker, k9 (9, 11, 11, 13), place marker, k26 (30, 30, 34, 36), place marker, k9 (9, 11, 11, 13), place marker, k9 (9, 11, 11, 13), place marker, knit to the end of the round.

Next Round: Slip 1, K1, repeat from * to end of round.

Decrease Round: *Knit to two stitch before first marker, ssk, slip marker, K1, k2tog, repeat from * for next 5 markers, knit to end of round.

Repeat previous two rounds 2 (2, 3, 3, 4) more times. On the last decrease round, remove the first, third, fourth and sixth marker. Change to double pointed needles when stitches no longer comfortably fit around needle.

Next Round: Slip 1, K1, repeat from * to end of round.

Decrease Round: *Knit to two stitch before first marker, ssk, slip marker, K1, k2tog, repeat from * for next marker, knit to end of round.

Next Round: Slip 1, K1, repeat from * to end of round.

Repeat previous two rounds.

Next Round: Knit to first marker, remove marker, K1, slip the following stitches onto a doublepointed needle until you reach the second marker, remove marker, slip the remaining stitches on to a second double pointed needle

Use kitchner stitch to close the top of the hat. Weave in your ends and you are all done! Hope this hat warms you up! --Laura

Comments

[Delicious_Alarm]

Would be great if you could post a picture of the hat on a model! Would like to see how it looks on a head before getting started.

[ErinP]

What is the yardage for an adult small? Do you think 200 yds would be enough? Thank you!

[Jessica]

I was wondering if you would be able to post the yardage used for the other sizes? I was hoping to be able to find something in my expansive stash for a couple of hats and I really like this pattern.

[purl bee]

Erin P and Jessica, Thank you both for commenting! Here are the yardage requirements for the Baby (Toddler, Kid, Small Adult, Large Adult) hats: 80 (105, 135, 160, 185). Originally I said it took a every last inch of the 250-yard skein of Swan's Island Worsted to make a Large Adult. Correction: It took every last inch to make the Baby and Large Adult. Thanks again for your interest. Hope you enjoy the pattern! -Laura

[Brianna]

My little girl hasn't taken this off since I took it off the needles! She looks just lovely in it. Thank you so much for a great pattern!

[amber]

such a great pattern! one question–when you measure the length before the set up for decreasing, do you leave the roll or stretch the hat flat?

[Diane Stanton]

I think this hat style would be excellent in a varigated color mix yarn --for baby the soft baby colors--for teen bright mixed colors--for women a single color with maybe one or two rows with a contrasting color-- for men the darker manish colors of tan,cream, light brown, and or some black mixed in.

[Mary G]

Those are so cute! I'd make mine in red.

[Sally]

Could you make this hat with big bulky yarn on #13 needles?

[purl bee]

Hi Sally-

This pattern wouldn't work on a size 13 needle because you wouldn't be getting the same gauge.

Thanks for your question!

Molly

[Lisa]

Sally, you can adjust the pattern using the gauge you get using your bigger yarn and needles. You do this by dividing your gauge by the pattern's guage. For example, if you got 3 sts/inch, you would divide 6 into 3 (the gauge called for in the pattern), which would give you 0.5 (Half the stitches! Makes sense with the bigger yarn.). Then use this number to multiply by the numbers given in the pattern. So if the pattern says to cast on 100 sts, multiply by 0.5 and that gives you 50. Cast on 50 instead! I am sure you'll have to make adjustments, but with the bulky yarn, trying something out and making changes doesn't waste too much time. Right? Hope this works for you!

[Anne B]

I'm loving this pattern so far! I have the same question as Amber though. When measuring before starting the decrease, do I leave it rolled up or stretch it out flat?

Thanks!

[purl bee]

Hi Anne B.,
Great question.
You leave the edge rolled.
Laura