» photos: Brandy Fortune » model: BG

Little Windows

By Kristle Chester

As a child, I spent many Sundays studying the stained glass windows of our church. As the light danced through them, casting rainbows across the room, the church transformed into a magical place and my imagination ran free with visions of fairies and unicorns. Inevitably, winter rains would cast their dismal light upon us and the magic would fade until spring returned. This hat is my attempt at preserving that magic through the winter months.

SIZE

Toddler[Small Child, Child]
Shown in size Small Child

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS

Hat Circumference: 16[17, 18] inches
Hat Height: 7.25[7.75, 7.75] inches

MATERIALS

Dream in Color Classy Worsted Weight [100% Superfine Australian Merino Superwash; 250 yards/229 meters per 4 ounce/113 gram skein]

VM360 Black Parade (MC); 1 skein
VM180 Visual Purple (CA); 1 skein

Recommended needle sizes

US #8/5mm 32 inch or longer circular needle (for magic loop method). See this tutorial by theknitwitch for further information.
or
US #8/5mm double pointed needles (set of 5)
US H/5mm crochet hook
Note: The decrease section is easier if you work the hat using the magic loop rather than double pointed needles.

NOTIONS

Cable needle
Closed ring stitch markers
Safety pins (small) or split ring markers – 16[17, 18]
Smooth waste yarn
Tapestry needle
Tip: If you don't have enough stitch markers and/or safety pins, use loops of waste yarn.

GAUGE

Main Body Fair Isle Cable: 24 sts and 26 rows = 4 inches
Edging Cable: 8 sts and 6 rows = 1 inch

PATTERN NOTES

The cable edging is worked first. Begin with a crocheted provisional cast on and end by grafting the first and last rows together using kitchener stitch.
The hat body stitches are picked up from the cable's selvedge and are worked in the round.
Two methods are given for shaping cable rows on the crown, intermediate and advanced.
MC is the frame color. CA is the window color.

SPECIAL ABBREVIATIONS

Kw: Knit, wrapping the yarn twice around the needle. Drop the extra wrap on the next round.
C3Lw: Slip next st (MC) onto cable needle and hold at the front of the work k2(CA) from left needle, k1(MC) from cable needle, wrapping the yarn twice around the needle. Drop the extra wrap on the next round.
C3R: Slip 2 sts (CA) onto cable needle and hold at the back of the work k1(MC) from left needle, k2(CA) from cable needle.
k2togw: K2tog, wrapping the yarn twice around the needle. Drop the extra wrap on the next round.
Sskw: Ssk, wrapping the yarn twice around the needle. Drop the extra wrap on the next round.

INSTRUCTIONS

CABLE EDGING

MC, cast-on 8 sts with a crocheted provisional cast-on.

Row 1 (RS): Slip 1 pwise, p1, k6.
Row 2 (WS): P6, k2.
Row 3: Slip 1 pwise, p1, C6F.
Row 4: P6, k2.
Row 5: Place a safety pin in the first stitch. Slip 1 pwise, p1, k6.
Row 6: P6, k2.
Row 7: Slip 1 pwise, p1, k6.
Row 8: P6, k2.
Row 9: Slip 1 pwise, p1, C6F.
Row 10: P6, k2.
Repeat Rows 5-10, 14[15, 16] times, then repeat Row 5 once more: 16[17, 18] cables.
Remove the crochet provisional cast-on from the first row and place the sts on a needle. Graft the two ends together being careful to purl the purls and knit the knits.

HAT BODY

With RS facing, using CA, and beginning at any safety pin, pick up 96[102, 108] sts from the cable's selvedge (purled edge). Pick up 6 stitches between each set of safety pins and place a ring stitch marker after every 6th stitch.
Pick up 1 st in each row around (1 in each slipped st and 1 in the smaller loop between the slipped sts.
For magic loop, distribute 48[54, 54] stitches on the first needle and 48[48, 54] on the second. For dpns, distribute 24[24, 24] on the first needle, 24[24, 30] on the second, 24[24, 24] on the third, and 24[30, 30] on the fourth. For both methods, pm at the beginning of the round.

Rnd 1: * K1(MC), k4(CA), kw1(MC); repeat from * around.
Rnd 2: *C3Lw, C3R; repeat from * around.
Rnds 3-5: K2(CA), k1w(MC), k1(MC), * k4(CA), k1w(MC), k1(MC),; repeat from * around to last 2 sts, k2(CA).
Rnd 6: * C3R, C3Lw; repeat from * around.
Rnds 7-9: * K1(MC), k4(CA), kw1(MC); repeat from * around.
Rnds 10-22: Repeat Rnds 2-9 once, then repeat Rnds 2-6 once more.

HAT SHAPING

Toddler Size Only Decrease

Rnd 23: K1(MC) and move marker left 1 st. * K4(CA), sskw(MC), k4(CA), k2togw(MC); repeat from * around: 80 sts.
Rnd 24: *K4(CA), kw1(MC), ssk(CA), k2tog(CA), k1(MC); repeat from * around: 64 sts.
Advanced Rnd 25: * K4(CA), slip 1 MC and 2 CA onto cable needle and hold at the back of the work, k1(MC) from left needle, slip 1 MC from the cable needle to the right needle, using MC, K2tog (both CAs), pass second st (slipped MC) on right needle over first st; repeat from * around: 48 sts.
Intermediate Rnd 25: * K4(CA), ssk(MC), k2tog(MC); repeat from * around. There will be a gap where the window doesn't close completely at the top. See finishing instructions to close: 48 sts.

Toddler Size Crown Only

Rnd 26: Move marker right 1 st. * C3Lw, C3R; repeat from * around.
Rnd 27: K2 and move marker left 2 sts. * K2togw(MC), k4(CA); repeat from * around: 40 sts.
Rnd 28: * Kw1(MC), k1(CA), k2tog(CA), k1(CA); repeat from * around: 32 sts.
Rnd 29: * K1(MC), k2tog(CA), k1(CA); repeat from * around: 24 sts.
Rnd 30: * K1(MC), k2tog(CA); repeat from * around; cut CA: 16 sts.
Rnd 31: K1 and move marker left 1 st. K2tog(MC) around: 8 sts.
Rnd 32: K2tog(MC) around: 4 sts.
Cut yarn, leaving a long tail. Thread a tapestry needle with the tail, weave through the live stitches and cinch tight.

Small Child and Child Size Decrease Only

Small Child Size Shaping Only

Rnd 23: K1(MC), k4(CA), kw1(MC), * k1(MC), k4(CA), sskw(MC), k4(CA), k2togw(MC), k4(CA), kw1(MC), [k1(MC), k4(CA), kw1(MC)] 3 times; repeat from * once more, k1(MC), k4(CA), sskw(MC), k4(CA), k2togw(MC), k4(CA), kw1(MC), k1(MC), k4(CA), kw1(MC): 96 sts.
Rnd 24: [K1(MC), k4(CA), kw1(MC)] twice, ssk(CA), k2tog(CA), k1(MC), k4(CA), kw1(MC), * [k1(MC), k4(CA), k1(MC)] 4 times, ssk(CA), k2tog(CA), k1(MC), k4(CA), kw1(MC); repeat from * once more, k1(MC), k4(CA), k1(MC): 90 sts.

Advanced Rnd 25: K1(MC), k4(CA), kw1(MC), * k1(MC), k4(CA), slip 1 MC and 2 CA onto cable needle and hold at the back of the work, k1(MC) from left needle, slip 1 MC from cable needle to the right needle, using MC, K2tog (both CAs), pass second st (slipped MC) on right needle over first st, k4(CA), kw1(MC), [k1(MC), k4(CA), kw1(MC)] 3 times; repeat from * once more, k1(MC), k4(CA), slip 1 MC and 2 CA onto cable needle and hold at the back of the work, k1(MC) from left needle, slip 1 MC from the cable needle to the right needle, using MC, K2tog (both CAs), pass second st (slipped MC) on right needle over first st, k4(CA), kw1(MC), k1(MC), k4(CA), kw1(MC): 84 sts.
Intermediate Rnd 25: K1(MC), k4(CA), kw1(MC), * k1(MC), k4(CA), ssk(MC), k2tog(MC), k4(CA), kw1(MC), [k1(MC), k4(CA), kw1(MC)] 3 times; repeat from * once more, k1(MC), k4(CA), ssk(MC), k2tog(MC), k4(CA), kw1(MC), k1(MC), k4(CA), kw1(MC): 84 sts.

Child Size Shaping Only

Rnd 23: * K1(MC), k4(CA), kw1(MC), k1(MC), k4(CA), sskw(MC), k4(CA), k2togw(MC), k4(CA), kw1(MC), [k1(MC), k4(CA), kw1(MC)] twice, k1(MC), k4(CA), sskw(MC), k4(CA), k2togw(MC), k4(CA), kw1(MC); repeat from * once more: 100 sts.
Rnd 24: * K1(MC), k4(CA), kw1(MC), k1(MC), k4(CA), kw1(MC), ssk(CA), k2tog(CA), k1(MC), k4(CA), kw1(MC), [k1(MC), k4(CA), kw1(MC)] twice, k1(MC), k4(CA), kw1(MC), ssk(CA), k2tog(CA), k1(MC), k4(CA), kw1(MC); repeat from * once more: 92 sts.
Advanced Rnd 25: * K1(MC), k4(CA), kw1(MC), k1(MC), k4(CA), slip 1 MC and 2 CA onto cable needle and hold at the back of the work, k1(MC) from left needle, slip 1 MC from the cable needle to the right needle, using MC, K2tog(both CAs), pass second st (slipped MC) on right needle over first st, k4(CA), kw1(MC), [k1(MC), k4(CA), kw1(MC)] twice, k1(MC), k4(CA), slip 1 MC and 2 CA onto cable needle and hold at the back of the work, k1(MC) from left needle, slip 1 MC from the cable needle to the right needle, using MC, K2tog(both CAs), pass second st (slipped MC) on right needle over first st, k4(CA), kw1(MC); repeat from * once more: 84 sts.
Intermediate Rnd 25: * K1(MC), k4(CA), kw1(MC), k1(MC), k4(CA), ssk(MC), k2tog(MC), k4(CA), kw1(MC), [k1(MC), k4(CA), kw1(MC)] twice, k1(MC), k4(CA), ssk(MC), k2tog(MC), k4(CA), kw1(MC); repeat from * once more: 84 sts.

Small Child and Child Size Crown Only

Rnd 26: * C3Lw, C3R; repeat from * around.
Rnd 27: * K2(CA), sskw(MC), k4(CA), k2togw(MC), k2(CA); repeat from * around: 70 sts.
Rnd 28: * K2(CA), kw1(MC), ssk(CA), k2tog(CA), k1(MC), k2(CA); repeat from * around: 56 sts.
Advanced Rnd 29: K2(CA), slip 1 MC and 2 CA onto cable needle and hold at the back of the work, k1(MC) from left needle, slip 1 MC from the cable needle to the right needle, k2tog(MC) from cable needle, pass second st on right needle over first st, * k4(CA), slip 1 MC and 2 CA onto cable needle and hold at the back of the work, k1(MC) from left needle, slip 1 MC from the cable needle to the right needle, using MC, K2tog(both CAs), pass second st (slipped MC) on right needle over first st; repeat from * around to last 2 sts, k2(CA): 42 sts.
Intermediate Rnd 29: K2(CA), ssk(MC), k2tog(MC), * k4(CA), ssk(MC), k2tog(MC); repeat from * around to last 2 sts, k2(CA): 42 sts.
Rnd 30: * C3R, C3Lw; repeat from * around.
Rnd 31: K1 and move marker left 1 st. * K4(CA), k2togw(MC); repeat from * around: 35 sts.
Rnd 32: * K1(CA), k2tog(CA), k1(CA), kw1(MC); repeat from * around: 28 sts.
Rnd 33: * K1(CA), k2tog(CA), k1(MC); repeat from * around: 21 sts.
Rnd 34: * K2tog(CA), k1(MC); repeat from * around: 14 sts.
Rnd 35: K2tog(MC) around: 7 sts.
Rnd 36: K2tog(MC) around to last st, k1(MC): 4 sts.
Cut yarn, leaving a long tail. Thread a tapestry needle with the tail, weave through the live stitches and cinch tight.

FINISHING

Weave in the yarn ends. Be careful when weaving in the end on the outer edge of the cable edging. Don't pull the end too tight or you'll have a noticeable dimple! If you used the intermediate decrease, tie the two edges of the frame together with smocking stitch.
Wash your hat according to the yarn manufacturer’s instructions. Measure your mixing bowls in circumference and choose the size closest to your hat circumference. If your mixing bowl is larger than the desired size by .25 inch or more, go down a size in mixing bowls. Turn the bowl upside down. Using the bowl as a form, shape the damp hat over the bowl and let it dry. If your hat is taller than your bowl, balance the bowl upside down over another object and extend the sides of the bowl with aluminum foil.

Kristle is a freelance writer with a yarn addiction. You can find her mixing her two passions, knitting and open source software, on her blog, The Knitting Penguin, and on Ravelry where she’s known as "kcyarn".