Use coupon code “Theatre Games” for 25% off the pattern through 4/25.

The “Zip Zap Zop” Hat
By Corrado Lark

The Needs:

Yarn:

• 2 exquisite balls of Clinton Hill 100% Bespoke Cashmere. A beautiful Aran weight, 99yds/50g each of “Tropical Teal” and “Yolo Yellow”.

Needles:

• US 8 (5mm) 16” circular needle
• US 10 (6mm) 16” circular needle.
• US 10 (6mm) magic looping needles or DPNs.

Notions:

• 9 stitch markers (at most).
• A darning needle.

Gauge:

• 13 stitches and 24 rows per 4” of twisted rib stitch, blocked.
• *** Two cables and one section of reverse stockinette per 4”, blocked (the body of the hat pattern).

Finished Dimensions:

• Small (Medium, Large, Extra Large). Brim size: 15.5” (18”, 22”, 24.5”).
• Hat length varies depending on how many times you want to cable in the hat, the decreases are worked over 2.5”.

Stitches/Techniques Used:

Slipped stitch, 2 color twisted ribbing, a doubled garter stitch band, stripey chunky cables, and reverse stockinette stripes. Advanced/Adventurous Beginner Friendly.

The Backstory:

Back in theatre school, we played a lot of theatre games. Though I see how some teachers use these games to teach different instinctual aspects of acting, for the most part they’re just a good excuse not to perform that monologue you’re behind on memorizing.

One of the best games is Zip Zap Zop, where you stand in a circle with the ensemble and clap your hands, saying, “Zip” directionally at someone (like Nancy Pelosi clapping condescendingly towards he-who-must-not-be-named). They then clap saying “Zap” towards someone in the circle, and that someone claps saying “Zop” to someone else. The sequence continues until someone doesn’t keep in rhythm with the rest or says the wrong word, and that person is out.

I still don’t see the real correlation between the game and theatre acting, but it makes for a great name for this hat using Clinton Hill Cashmere’s new Bold line of Bespoke Cashmere.

I took the three distinct stitch patterns that referenced lightning and used the “Zip Zap Zop” title as inspiration for this never-boring knit.