Friday, August 8, 2014

Rhombi Hats

UPDATE: 9/6/14
While designing hats with knit & purl stitches for the eBook called Precocious Purls, I found another interesting pattern in 400 knitting stitches, Tiles2, p42.  The pattern creates a diamond, but remembering my many years as a second grade educator, "Your teacher, and the math program, will call that a rhombus".  I have modified the pattern, and because the hats will have a few diamonds in a row, they'll be called the Rhombi Hat, and Rhombi Moss Hat.    

As I did a Ravelry (login needed) search for "diamond, hat, knit", I  found 250 matches.  Some of the matches were because knitters used a Diamond Yarn pattern leaflet.  There were/are some beautiful patterns, but none of the patterns available matched the Rhombi Hats I am presenting.  The  Ravelry search for  "rhombus, hat, knit" generated only 4 matches, and I'll go with that.

Rhombi Hats
Marilynn Blacketer '14
The Rhombi Hats work well in a cotton or wool blend.
Yes, the knit and purl stitches create a diamond, but your teacher will call it a rhombus. The Rhombus or Rhombus Moss charts are a great introduction to chart reading, and gives the knitter something interesting to do. If finished neatly, the recipient can wear it inside-out for a reversible look.
Each hat takes just a few hours to knit, and makes a perfect gift or accessory for either gender.


Finished sizes:
Adult: flat 14”, stretches to 22”circumference, height 9”
Child: flat 12”, stretches to 20”circumference, height 8”
Infant: flat 10”, stretches to 18”circumference, height 7”
Gauge: 5 stitches = 1” Adjust needle size to match gauge.

Materials:
Yarn: cotton or wool blend in worsted weight
Adult: 150 yards/ 2.5oz; Child: 125 yards /2 oz Infant: 90yards / 1.5 oz
Photo: Rhombi Hat is knit in Plymouth Encore worsted; 75%acrylic/ 25%wool; color 560
Rhombi Moss Hat is knit in Plymouth Fantasy Naturale worsted; 100%cotton; color 4548
Needles: Size US#8, 16” circular needles, set size US#8 double pointed needles
Notions: Stitch markers, tapestry needle

Abbreviations: CO = cast on      K = knit      k2tog = knit 2 stitches together
p = purl       p2tog= purl 2 stitches together       Rnd/s = round/s      sts = stitches

(These 12stitches and 15rows create the rhombus pattern)
Key: knit     , purl -
 Special Stitches: Rhombus
Rnd 1: k5, p1, k6
Rnd 2: k4, p1, k1, p1, k5
Rnd 3: k3, p1, k1, p1, k1, p1, k4
Rnd 4: k2, p1, k1, p3, k1, p1, k3
Rnd 5: k1, p1, k1, p5, k1, p1, k2
Rnd 6: p1, k1, p7, k1, p1, k1
Rnd 7: k1, p9, k1, p1
Rnd 8: p11, k1
Rnd 9: k1, p9, k1, p1
Rnd 10: p1, k1, p7, k1, p1, k1
Rnd 11: k1, p1, k1, p5, k1, p1, k2
Rnd 12: k2, p1, k1, p3, k1, p1, k3
Rnd 13: k3, p1, k1, p1, k1, p1, k4
Rnd 14: k4, p1, k1, p1, k5
Rnd 15: k5, p1, k6


As you work the chart, start in the bottom right corner, and work right to left. By reading and working in this manner, your stitches will follow the direction of the chart. On the hat, place a marker at the end of each 12 stitch repeat, and start counting again at "one."  It's helpful to keep pencil tallies on a post-a-note to mark the rounds, and move the post-a-note up, as you work your way up the chart.

(These 12stitches and 15rows create the rhombus moss pattern)
Key: knit     , purl -
Special Stitches: Rhombus Moss
Rnd 1: k5, p1, k6
Rnd 2: k4, p1, k1, p1, k5
Rnd 3: k3, p1, (k1, p1)2times, , k4
Rnd 4: k2, p1, (k1, p1)3times, k3
Rnd 5: (k1, p1)5times, k2
Rnd 6: (p1, k1)6times
Rnd 7: (k1, p1)6times
Rnd 8: (p1, k1)6times
Rnd 9: (k1, p1) 6times
Rnd 10: (p1, k1)6times
Rnd 11: (k1, p1)5times, k2
Rnd 12: k2, p1, (k1, p1)3times, k3
Rnd 13: k3, p1, (k1, p1)2times, k4
Rnd 14: k4, p1, k1, p1, k5
Rnd 15: k5, p1, k6




Directions: Directions are written for adult size. [child and infant directions are in brackets]

Use the long-tail cast-on method, with size #8, 16” circular needles. Cast on 84 [72, 60] stitches.
Place marker & join together by knitting first stitch being careful not to twist.
Brim:
Rounds 1-12[10,10]: * Knit 1, purl 1; repeat from * to end

Hat: Work the hat around in rhombus or rhombus moss pattern.

Rhombus pattern:
Rnd 1: * K5, p1, k6, place marker; repeat from * to end
Rnd 2: * K4, p1, k1, p1, k5; repeat from * to end
Rnd 3: * K3, p1, k1, p1, k1, p1, k4; repeat from * to end
Rnd 4: * K2, p1, k1, p3, k1, p1, k3; repeat from * to end
Rnd 5: * K1, p1, k1, p5, k1, p1, k2; repeat from * to end
Rnd 6: * P1, k1, p7, k1, p1, k1; repeat from * to end
Rnd 7: * K1, p9, k1, p1; repeat from * to end
Rnd 8: * P11, k1; repeat from * to end
Rnd 9: * K1, p9, k1, p1; repeat from * to end
Rnd 10: * P1, k1, p7, k1, p1, k1; repeat from * to end
Rnd 11: * K1, p1, k1, p5, k1, p1, k2; repeat from * to end
Rnd 12: * K2, p1, k1, p3, k1, p1, k3; repeat from * to end
Rnd 13: * K3, p1, k1, p1, k1, p1, k4; repeat from * to end
Rnd 14: * K4, p1, k1, p1, k5; repeat from * to end
Rnd 15: * K5, p1, k6; repeat from * to end

     
Optional Rhombus Moss pattern:   
Rnd 1: * k5, p1, k6, place marker; repeat from * to end
Rnd 2: * k4, p1, k1, p1, k5; repeat from * to end
Rnd 3: * k3, p1, (k1, p1)2times, k4; repeat from * to end
Rnd 4: * k2, p1, (k1, p1)3times, k3; repeat from * to end
Rnd 5: * (k1, p1)5times, k2; repeat from * to end
Rnd 6: * (p1, k1)6times; repeat from * to end
Rnd 7: * (k1, p1)6times; repeat from * to end 
Rnd 8: * (p1, k1)6times; repeat from * to end 
Rnd 9: * (k1, p1) 6times; repeat from * to end
Rnd 10: * (p1, k1)6times; repeat from * to end
Rnd 11: * (k1, p1)5times, k2; repeat from * to end
Rnd 12: * k2, p1, (k1, p1)3times, k3; repeat from * to end
Rnd 13: * k3, p1, (k1, p1)2times, k4; repeat from * to end
Rnd 14: * k4, p1, k1, p1, k5; repeat from * to end
Rnd 15: * k5, p1, k6; repeat from * to end

Work the hat in pattern for 8” [7”, 6”] from CO ending on round 15 or round 8.


For a taller hat, or fold-up brim work extra rounds of the pattern before starting the crown decreases.

Crown decreases: Change to double pointed needles when needed.

Crown decreases ending hat at round 15:
Rnd 1: * K4, k2tog; repeat from * to end
Rnds 2, 4, 6, 8: Knit
Rnd 3: * K3, k2tog; repeat from * to end
Rnd 5: * K2, k2tog; repeat from * to end
Rnd 7: * K1, k2tog; repeat from * to end
Rnd 9: * K2tog; repeat from * to end.
Rnd 10: * K2tog; repeat from * to end.

          Crown decreases ending hat at round 8:
          Rnd 1: * P4, p2tog; repeat from * to end
          Rnds  2, 4, 6, 8: Purl
          Rnd 3: * P3, p2tog; repeat from * to end
          Rnd 5: * P2, p2tog; repeat from * to end
          Rnd 7: * P1, p2tog; repeat from * to end
          Rnd 9: * P2tog; repeat from * to end
          Rnd 10: * P2tog; repeat from * to end

Finishing: Cut 12” yarn and thread end through remaining 7 [6, 5] stitches.
Pull together, and tie off neatly for a reversible hat.

This pattern is available on MarilynnsGardenKnitDesign.blogspot.com
This pattern pdf available on Ravelry.com. (login needed)
eBook Precocious Purls is available on Ravelry.com (login needed)
Copyright 2014, Marilynn Blacketer. All rights reserved. 9/6/14
For pattern support please contact: marilynnblacketer@gmail.com