
My husband and I are football fanatics. On any given Saturday during the fall, you’ll find us at an NCAA football game. In the late fall, it can get mighty cold at those games and staying warm is almost as important as a win for our team. With that in mind, I came up with the Game Day Hat.
The Game Day Hat features a tight gauge at the brim to really hug your ears and keep them warm, then switches to a looser gauge throughout the remainder of the hat, keeping you warm, but not sweaty. Be sure to add some height to the hat, so you’ll be nice and comfy while you jump up and down on those stadium bleachers. I’ve also incorporated a defined fold at the brim for a neater look. The ribbing pattern is nice and stretchy and can accommodate various head sizes. Adjust your cast on by multiples of 3 stitches to achieve the fit you want.
SIZES:
- Directions are written for Small, with changes for Medium and Large written in parentheses. Due to the stretchyness of the ribbing, I’ve found that the Medium size will fit most adults. The small size worked perfectly for my small 4-year-old.
GAUGE:
- 6 stitches per inch in K2 P1 ribbed pattern using size US6 (smaller) needles
YARN:
- 1 skein of Malabrigo Merino Worsted or other worsted weight yarn.
- Partial skein of Malabrigo Merino Worsted (scraps will work!) in contrasting color
NEEDLES:
- US6 16” circular needles or dpns (or size needed to obtain gauge)
- US7 16” circular needles or dpns (or 1 size larger than needle used to obtain gauge)
OTHER MATERIALS:
- Stitch marker
- Yarn needle
ABBREVIATIONS:
- CO – cast on
- K – knit
- P – purl
- MC – main color
- CC – contrasting color
- P2TOG – purl 2 stitches together
- K2TOG – knit 2 stitches together
PATTERN
BRIM:
CO 84 (96, 108) stitches in CC on size US6 needles. Join to knit in the round, placing marker to note beginning of round and being careful not to twist stitches.
K2 P1 around for ¾ (1,1) inches
Switch to MC
K2 P1 around for ¾ (1,1) inches
Turn work as follows:
Purl last stitch in the previous round. Bring yarn to back of work. Slip one stitch from left needle to the right needle. Bring yarn to front of work. Slip the same stitch back to the left needle. Turn knitting inside-out, making sure your yarn is in the back of the work.
P1 K2 around for 1 ½ (2,2) inches
BODY OF HAT:
Switch to US7 needles and continue in P1 K2 pattern.
Work in pattern until hat is 9(11, 13) inches from cast on edge, or desired height.
DECREASES (switch to DPNs when necessary):
Round 1 = P1 K1 P2TOG K2 repeat til end of round; 70(80, 90) stitches remaining
Rounds 2, 4, 6, and 8 = knit the knit stitches (vees) and purl the purl stitches (bumps)
Round 3 = P1 K2TOG K2 repeat til end of round; 56 (64, 72) stitches remaining
Round 5 = P2TOG K2 repeat til end of round; 42 (48, 54) stitches remaining
Round 7 = P2TOG K1 repeat til end of round; 28 (32, 36) stitches remaining
FINISHING UP:
Break yarn leaving long tail.
Using yarn needle, thread tail through remaining stitches and pull tight.
Secure on wrong side and weave in ends.
Stay warm and enjoy the game!