Easter Cap

When I was in Albuquerque, NM a few weeks ago and found my pretty in purple wool, I also found this gorgeous organic wool by O-Wool called Balance.  It is 50% Merino wool and 50% cotton.  When I saw it I thought of my mom who loves the color blue.  It's a blueish gray with specks of white and although I didn't know what I wanted to make with it I knew I had to get it.  I ended up going on O-Wool's website for ideas and they had a free pattern for a cute little hat called In-Between Seasons Cap.  I had never done a cable stitch but this was a good time to try.  This pattern also had a few other stitches I had never used before like twR and ssk.  The cable band was somewhat easy but as the hat went on I found it to be somewhat difficult, however the end result was worth any frustration I had.  Mine came out somewhat small like a beanie so if I were to do it again I would make it longer.

In-Between Seasons Cap from O-Wool:

Yarn: 1 skein O-Wool Balance, 130yd/50g 
Color: Lapis
Needles: Circular 16 inch size US 6, 1 cable needle, set of 5 size US 6 dpn's
Gauge: 20 st = 4" over Stst  30 rows = 4" Stst
Size: Woman's M (20" circumference)


Directions can also be found on O-Wool's website along with other great free patterns.

Using either circular or two dpn’s, CO 19st.  Do not join.

Work back and forth as follows:
Row 1 and all WS rows:  p4, k2, p8, k2, p3
Row 2, 4:  k1, twR, p2, k8, p2, twL, k2.
Row 6:  k1, twR, p2, sl 4 st onto spare dpn or cable needle and hold in front, k4, k4 from dpn or cable needle, p2, twL, k2.
Row 8, 10: As Row 2
Repeat Rows 1-10 until piece measures 20” (13x total).
Work Row 1 once more.

Sew ends together to form band of hat.  The left side is now the top of the band.

Using circular needle, pick up 100 sts from top of band. (Tip:  Pick approx. 3 sts for every 4).
Join and begin working in the rnd.  Knit one row.  Then, work the foll 2 rows until piece measures 4” from base of hat, ending with Rnd 2:
Rnd 1: (k9, p1, twL, p1, twR, p1, k9) 4x
Rnd 2: (k9, p1, k2, p1, k2, p1, k9) 4x

Begin Crown Decrease
Dec rnd 1: (k7, k2 tog, p1, twL, p1, twR, p1, ssk, k7) 4x
Next rnd:  (k8, p1, k2, p1, k2, p1, k8) 4x
Next rnd:  (k8, p1, twL, p1, twR, p1, k8) 4x
Next rnd:  (k8, p1, k2, p1, k2, p1, k8) 4x
Dec rnd 2: (k6, k2 tog, p1, twL, p1, twR, p1, ssk, k6) 4x
Next rnd:  (k7, p1, k2, p1, k2, p1, k7) 4x
Next rnd:  (k7, p1, twL, p1, twR, p1, k7) 4x
Dec rnd 3:  (k5, k2 tog, p1, k2, p1, k2, p1, ssk, k5) 4x
Next rnd:  (k6, p1, twL, p1, twR, p1, k6) 4x
Dec rnd 4:  (k4, k2 tog, p1, k2, p1, k2, p1, ssk, k4) 4x
Next rnd:  (k5, p1, twL, p1, twR, p1, k5) 4x
Dec rnd 5:  (k3, k2 tog, p1, k2, p1, k2, p1, ssk, k3) 4x
Next rnd:  (k4, p1, twL, p1, twR, p1, k4) 4x
Dec rnd 6:  (k2, k2 tog, p1, k2, p1, k2, p1, ssk, k2) 4x
Dec rnd 7:  (k1, k2 tog, p1, twL, p1, twR, p1, ssk, k1) 4x
Dec rnd 8:  (k2 tog, p1, k2, p1, k2, p1, ssk) 4x
Dec rnd 9: [(k2 tog) 2x, p1, (k2tog) 2x] 4x
Dec rnd 10: (k2tog, p1, k2 tog) 4x


Abbreviations:
CO - cast on
dec - decrease
dpn - double-pointed needles
foll - following
k - knit
k2tog - knit 2 stitches together (decreasing to the right)
p - purl
rnd - round
RS - right side (front of work)
ssk - slip one st as if to k, slip one st as if to p, slip the tip of the left needle into the fronts of these sts and k them together (decreasing to the left)
st - stitch
Stst - stockinette stitch
twL - twist next two stitches to the left=insert needle into back of 2nd st and k it, then k 1st st.
twR - twist next two stitches to the right=insert needle into front of 2nd st and k it, then k 1st st