Rural Minnesotans understand that sometimes getting dressed up in subzero temps can be really limited. Date nights often include a snowmobile ride or an icehouse. But we still want to get a little fancy! Putting on a beanie knitted up in the best shade of minty green with a little bit of lace tucked in will do the trick!

I designed this hat to be a swatch project for the Lace and Long John’s cardigan. But if you’re not a cardigan knitter, this hat is lovely in it’s own right!

Should you choose to knit this as a swatch project, grab a skein of DK weight or hold two strands of Suri Alpaca (like I did) and cast on an experimental cap. If after blocking, you find that your gauge is off, you can forge on and in Zimmerman’s wise words, this one “is sure to fit somebody.” Cast on a second time, using a different needle size to see if your next experimental cap will get that gauge just right. This hat also gives you a chance to get the hang of the lace panel chart in preparation for working it in the cardigan. Keep in mind that the hat is worked in the round and your cardigan will be worked flat when you’re measuring your gauge.

Yarn
Lavender Lune Yarn Co Suri Alpaca (74% Baby Suri Alpaca, 26% Mulberry Silk 50 grams/328 yards)
Colorway Cahill, 1 skein.

OR

DK weight or lace weight held double, approximately 255 (280, 305) yards / 233 (256, 279) meters.
These yarn amounts are estimates. Any changes that knitters make to gauge or the hat’s measurements will change the amount of yarn you’ll need.

Gauge 20 stitches and 28 rounds = 4” / 10 cm in Stockinette Stitch.

Suggested Needles*
US Size 5 / 3.75 mm circular needle, 16” / 40 cm length for the ribbing.

US Size 6 / 4 mm 16” / 40 cm length for the hat body.
Double pointed needles of the same sizes suitable for small circumference knitting for the crown decreases.
Always choose the needle size that you need in order to obtain the pattern’s gauge.

Notions

• 1 Stitch marker to mark BOR
• Highlighter Tape (optional - to keep your place in the pattern)
• Measuring Tape
• Tapestry Needle
• Pompom maker or Pre-made Pom Pom
• Wool Wash and Blocking Mat

Techniques Used

• Long Tail Cast On Method
• Knitting in the Round on a Circular Needle
• K2TOG Decreasing
• Small Circumference Knitting in the Round