Whitney's 70's Ski Hat - The Pattern

 

This 70's style hat aids and abets in a little healthy nostalgia. Hockey on the pond, poma lifts to the top of the bunny slope, 6 feet of snow!

Gauge

5 stitches = 1 inch in st st using 1 strand of Cascade 220 and #7 needle

5.5 stitches = 1 inch in st st using 2 strands of 2 ply cashmere and #7 needle

Finished Size 

20" circumference (to fit average man's head)

 

Provisional Cast-On 

• Start with the waste yarn, and crochet a chain 120 stitches long. Using 2 strands of 2 ply cashmere and the #7 needle, pick up 110 stitches. (Please refer to the Provisional Cast-on tutorial if you are unfamiliar with this cast-on.)

Place a marker on the right needle and join for working in the round, being careful not to twist stitches around needle.

Knit 23 rounds with the two strands of cashmere.

Change to main color (MC).

Round 1: *K9, K2tog, repeat from * to end of rnd. (100st)

Round 2: Purl 

Knit 10 more rounds

K5 rounds with color A

K4 rounds with color B

K3 rounds with color C 

Weave in all the ends.

Place the provisional cast-on onto the smaller circular needle (see the Provisional Cast-on Tutorial).

 

Fold the cashmere hem up inside the hat so that the two circular needle are parallel to each other.

Change to MC.

Next round: *K 1 stitch from the front needle and 1 stitch from the back needle together 9 times, K 1 stitch from the front needle and 2 stitches from the back needle together 1 time, repeat from * to end of round (100 stitches).

With MC knit until hat measures 6-inches from hem edge.

Next round: K1, SSK, K45, K2tog, place marker, K1, SSK, K45, K2tog.

Next round: K1, SSK, K to 2 stitches before next marker, K2tog, slip marker, K1, SSK, K to 2 stitches before end-of-the-round marker, K2tog.

Repeat this last round until there are 20 stitches left, switching to double pointed needles when necessary.

Slip stitches so that the first 10 stitches are on 1 needle and the second 10 stitches are on another needle.

Cut an 18-inch tail.

Bring the needles inside the opening at the top of the hat (yes, this is a kind of weird manouever), and turn the hat inside out. 

Hold the two needles parallel and knit a three needle bind off. (You do this by knitting one stitch from the front needle together with one stitch from the back needle 2 times. Then pass the first stitch over the second, just like a normal bind off...)

 

Finally, I do something that I admit is a little control freakish. I don't like the idea of someone wearing this hat with the jogged stripe side in the front, so I tie a little piece of yarn on the hem that says "This is the back of the hat!" 

All that's left is to weave in the ends, block the hat, and make a few more!

 

Comments

[Linda]

Thank You for the excellent ski hat instructions. Boy - does that bring back memories of my older brother and my dad when we all went skiing. I have the book also in your sidebar - going to make my grandson the puzzle ball. Love your site!

[erin]

i make hats exactly like this! well, i actually make 4 decreases, but the rest is the same. the cashmere is a brilliant addition! love it.

[Kat]

so freaking cute

[Wendy]

Wow, this brings back memories of CB jackets and the K2 Stingers I had in '77! Love the hat, the colors are so perfect!

[ann]

Absolutely lovely. thanks for the tutorial!

[samantha]

beautiful whitney.

[Emily]

Brilliant! I am so making this.

[Max Daniels]

So perfect! Takes me right back to 8th grade.

My sister recently thrifted a patchwork coverlet made from 70s hat-and-sweater scraps, many with logos from various Colorado resorts. If I make one of these hats, I'm going to be tempted to do a colorwork rooster or something on it :)

[Mary]

We called these "Three pointed Moriarity Hats" - I have no idea who Moriarity was but we needed to have these hats on the 1970's slopes - Thank you, this brings back such fond memories of long wonderful days skiing at Jiminy Peak - I'm definitely going to make these for my kids who are about to learn to ski this year! Happy New Year! Mary

[EllenElizabeth]

Thanks for the generosity of posting such a great project, with instructions, helpful photos, and yes... a story to tell and details like the knot to tell the front from back.

[Nati]

Gosh, thanks so much for such a wonderful pattern and pics!! You are incredibly generous and I love your taste. Thanks for this and all the other ideas and help you provide.
Nati

[Sherry]

Thanks, Whitney. Just finished one for my husband, and it is FAB! I'll drag him to the store sometime so he can model it for you....

[Rebecca]

This hat is so sharp! I've already made one for my cousin and am working on a second for an in-law. The finished prtoduct is totally worth the added work of the proviional cast-on (great tutorial, by the way).Thanks!

[Angela]

I love this hat and really want to make one for my boyfriend, but his head is 23" in diameter...Can anyone direct me towards a tutorial for scaling up? The last time I tried this it was something of a disaster. Thanks!

[Purl Bee]

Hi Angela,

My husband's head is also 23 inches, and the 70's hat fits him great. I designed the hat a little smaller than an average man's head so that the hat would stretch for a snug, warm fit. I think you're all set and don't have to worry about making any changes to the pattern.

But, just for your information, there are 2 basic ways to change a pattern's size. One is to knit at a bigger or smaller gauge than the pattern uses, and the other is to actually change the number of stitches you cast on and use.

For the first method, you would divide the number of cast on stitches (110) by the final measurement you're trying to achieve (say, for a woman 18"). The result of that calculation (6.1) is the number of stitches per inch you want to knit at. In this example, you would probably want to use a different yarn rather than just change needle sizes.

The second method is usually a bit more complicated. You would have to alter most of the stitch counts in the pattern by the percentage of change you want to make in the size (in our example, 18" is 10% smaller than 20", so you would cast on 10% fewer stitches). Sometimes, if there is a stitch pattern or evenly spaced decreases, you have to be sure to change your stitches by denominations that are divisible by a certain number (a simple example would be if you're knitting a 2 x 2 rib in the round, you would make sure to cast on a number of stitches that is divisible by 4).

Lots to take in, I know... For simple patterns like this one, it's a lot easier than it sounds!

Thanks for the great question, Whitney

[Angela]

Wow! Thanks for the **great** answer Whitney!

[caarin]

I've just swatched to start this hat for my dad and I'm so glad I checked the posts. I was wondering the same thing about the size. His head is 22.5" - now i know it will fit! This is just the perfect man/boy hat! Good patterns for menfolk are so rare - this is a find!

Thanks Whitney!

[James]

Thanks so much for the excellent manly pattern. As a guy knitter, it's so hard to find good patterns that I am excited to make for myself or for other guys. I also love the retro feel. I saw your pattern soon after receiving some Icelandic wool as a gift and knew it would be a perfect fit for the pattern. The wool is super scratchy so the lining is perfect to make it wearable. I did add about half an inch to the circumference, but because there's no rib, and because of the lining (in Lorna's Laces DK, doubled up for the right gauge), it's still a bit tight. I'll just have to stretch it out!
You can check it out on my ravelry page http://www.ravelry.com/projects/mymaille

[amy]

L.O.V.E. I.T. Now if you could just design one with those felt moose antlers or viking horns. Reminds me of childhood trips to Vail!

[vacation knitter]

I started tying contrasting yarn at the back of my hats for my own sanity years ago. I was VERY happy to see it on this pattern, and I knew what it was even before I read the explanation.

Smart!

[dina]

I am struggling with the instructions. When I switch to the MC, do I do so by knitting it right into the cashmere? Seems I should be using the second circular needle before switching to MC.?. Please help. I notice that others love the pattern and obviously did not struggle like me. I am sorry.

Thanks,
Dina

[purl bee]

Hi Dina,
You knit right into the cashmere on the same needle. Once you've knit all of the stripes you put the cashmere provisional stitches on a second needle and then you'll knit those stitches together with the wool. Hope this helps, please feel free to ask for more clarification if you need it.

[dina]

thank you, purl bee! actually, just seeing your response now. i stayed up late and finally figured it out. argh. note to self: don't drink wine while knitting!!! :) thanks...almost finished and my husband is drooling over it. it is the first project i've made for him. oh...one more thing. i can't find the jade sapphire. do you ship to minnesota? do you have any suggested substitutions? thanks again...knit onward!

[purl bee]

Hi Dina,
We ship anywhere! Here is a link to the Jade Sapphire 2 ply cashmere:
http://www.purlsoho.com/purl/products/yarndetail/614

[Blythe]

I want to make these hats as Christmas presents for several men this year. I'm just wondering how much of the cashmere skein is used per hat? I want to purchase enough, but not overpurchase! Also, would there be any reason not to use a 4-ply cashmere instead of the doubled 2-ply?

Thanks so much for a great manly pattern!