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This design is not brioche! I promise! (I’m scared of brioche, too, my friend.) Stranded ribbing looks just like brioche without all the trepidation of actually knitting brioche. If you already know how to strand knit, this hat will be a breeze to work up. The fabric created by stranded ribbing is cushy and warm. Top this baby with a pompom and you’re on your way!

This hat is named after the infamous Dorsky Hobnob Winklestinky. My mom grew up in Elizabeth City, North Carolina and apparently there was someone with this name in the phone book in her town growing up. She would always tell us about the kids in the town prank calling and asking if “Mr. Winklestinky” was at home and that story has stuck with me for some reason! It’s kind of an amazing name.

Sizes: Baby (Toddler, Child) (Small Adult, Average Adult, Large Adult) to fit a head circumference of 14” (16”, 18”) (19.5”, 21”, 23”)/36.5 (40.5, 45.5) (49.5, 53, 58.5) cm.

Yarn: 100 (125, 150) (200, 250, 300) yards/90 (115, 140) (180, 230, 275) meters of sock weight yarn total, about 50 (60, 75) (100, 125, 150) yards/45 (60, 70) (90, 115, 140) meters each of 2 different colors. Sample shown in The One String fingering weight yarn mini skeins.

Needles: Size US 4/3.5 mm circular or double point needles, or size needed to obtain gauge.

Gauge: 22 sts and 32 rows = 4”/10 cm in stranded ribbing pattern in the round (knit 1 with one color, purl 1 with a second color).

Notions: 9 – 14 st markers, a balloon (optional, for blocking), and a faux fur pompom (optional).

Techniques: Knitting in the round, basic Fair Isle stranding, and basic decreases.

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