Chunky Oats Cap

CHUNKY OATS CAP

This yarn has a nice, natural color that is perfect for fall – very evocative of the harvest. And when worked doubled, as in this super-simple, super-fast hat, it has a nice puffy quality that reminds me of rice, wheat, and all those other fabulous little grains. Make one just in tine for autumn and enjoy some Chunky Oats with your Thanksgiving Feast!

Materials:
-yarn- 2 skeins Red Heart Eco-Ways Bamboo Wool in colorway Gold (55% bamboo, 45% wool), 87 yds per skein
-needles- one 16" size 10 1/2 circular needle, one 40" size 10 1/2 circular needle (I only used the 40" when I had to do the crown decreases, as I knit them using magic loop method and the longer needle works better for this. If you prefer DPNs, use them instead of the 40" circ.)
-notions- markers, tapestry needle

Gauge: 3.5 sts = 1”. Guage is not very significant in this project because it stretches a lot

Size: Comfortably fits the average women’s head, with room to stretch. Increase or decrease the number of sts. Cast on by a multiple of 4 to alter size.

Skills Needed: circular knitting, decreasing (by K2TOG), long tail cast on

Note: Yarn is held doubled throughout! If you were to substitute a regular bulky yarn for this cap instead of working 2 strands together, just keep in mind that the two little “grains” you get by slipping the YO strand in the Oat stitch Pattern would come out as one “grain” rather than two lying together.

Stitches Used:
1) 2x2 Ribbing, in the round (multiple of 4 stitches)
Round 1 and all rounds: K2, P2 around

2) Oat Stitch, in the round (multiple of 4 stitches)
Round 1: *K2, YO, K2, PYOO*
Round 2: Knit even
Round 3: *YO, K2, PYOO, K2*
Round 4: Knit even

Abbreviations: K - knit, P - purl, YO – yarn over, PYOO – pass the YO loop over the stitch(es) just knitted, S – slip, CO - cast on, BO - bind off, rnd - round, K2TOG - knit two stitches together, St(s) - stitch(es), PM – place marker

PATTERN:

-CO 64 sts and join for working in the round, taking care not to twist. PM for beginning of the round (or just use the yarn tail)

- Work 2x2 ribbing for 3” * NOTE: If you want less ribbing at the bottom of your hat, just do as much as you want and then increase the number of Oat stitch pattern repeats you do.

- Knit one row even and then switch to Oat stitch pattern. Work Oat Stitch Pattern twice (or more if you’ve shortened the ribbing). Work rounds 1 and 2 of Oat stitch and then begin decreasing as below (switching to DPNs or magic loop as the hat becomes too small for 16” circs)
Round 3: *YO, K2TOG, PYOO, K2, YO, K2, PYOO, K2* (8 sts decreased)
Round 4: Knit even (56 sts total)
Round 5: *K1, YO, K2TOG, PYOO, K2, YO, K2, PYOO* (8 sts decreased)
Round 6: Knit even (48 sts total)
Round 7: *YO, K1, PYOO, K1, YO, K2TOG, PYOO, K2* (8 sts decreased)
Round 8: Knit even (40 sts total)
Round 9: *K1, YO, K1, PYOO, K1, YO, K2TOG, PYOO* (8 sts decreased)
Round 10: Knit even (32 sts total)
Round 11: *K2TOG* (16 sts decreased)
Round 12: Knit even (16 sts total)
Round 13: *K2TOG* (8 sts decreased, 8 sts total)
Round 14: *K2TOG* ($ sts decreased, 4 sts total)

- Cut yarn with enough of a tail to weave through remaining 4 sts and pull tight to close.

- Weave in all ends, block if desired.