by Emilee Mooney

This lace hat was

inspired by my two
favorite things about the
fall: cool, crisp weather,
and beautifully-colored
leaves. Worked in either
worsted or chunky
Malabrigo, it is soft and
warm, and perfect for
covering your ears on
blustery autumn days.
The subtle variations in
the kettle dyed yarn
enhance the rustic leaf
pattern.
This hat is worked from the top down, and the increases for the crown shaping are integrated
into the lace pattern. The Leaf Lace pattern is the Openwork Leaf Pattern from A Treasury of
Knitting Patterns by Barbara G. Walker, adapted to work in the round.
model: Marlee Mooney, Caroline Mooney photos: Emilee Mooney
SIZE
To fit an average adult head

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS
Circumference, unstretched: 17 inches
Will stretch to comfortably fit up to 24 inches.

MATERIALS
Version 1 [Chunky weight, shown in yellow]
Malabrigo Chunky [100% Merino wool; 104yd/95m per 100g skein]; Color: Pollen; 1 skein

1 set of five US #10.5/6.5mm double-point needles
1 16-inch US #10.5/6.5mm circular needle
1 16-inch US #9/5.5mm circular needle

Version 2 [Worsted weight, shown in red-orange]
Malabrigo Merino Worsted [100% Merino wool; 215yd/197m per 100g skein]; Color: Red
Java; 1 skein

1 set of five US #7/4.5mm double-point needles
1 16-inch US #7/4.5mm circular needle
1 16-inch US #5/3.75mm circular needle

Both Versions:
Safety pin or split ring marker
Stitch Marker
Tapestry Needle

GAUGE
Version 1: 15 sts/20 rows = 4 inches in stockinette st using size #10.5/6.5mm needles
Version 2: 21 sts/24 rows = 4 inches in stockinette st using size #7/4.5mm needles

PATTERN NOTES
[Knitty's list of standard abbreviations and techniques can be found here]
SKP: Slip 1 knitwise, knit next st, pass slipped st over. 1 st decreased.

SK2P: Slip 1 knitwise, k2tog, pass slipped st over. 2 sts decreased.

Leaf Lace (Worked over a multiple of 8 sts):
Round 1: [K2, SK2P, k2, yo, k1, yo] to end.
Even-numbered Rounds 2-12: K all sts.
Round 3: [K1, SK2P, k1, yo, k3, yo] to end.
Round 5: [SK2P, yo, k5, yo] to end.
Round 7: [Yo, k1, yo, k2, SK2P, k2] to end.
Round 9: [Yo, k3, yo, k1, SK2P, k1] to end.
Round 11: [Yo, k5, yo, SK2P] to end.
Repeat these 12 rounds for Leaf Lace Pattern.

PATTERN

Using double-point needle, CO 4 sts, leaving a 6-inch tail. Work back and forth on 2 needles
as follows:
Row 1 [WS]: P4.
Row 2 [RS]: [Kfb] 4 times. 8 sts.

Divide sts evenly between 4 needles (2 sts on each needle) and join to begin working in the
round.

K 1 round.
After the first few rounds have been worked, place a safety pin or split ring marker in the
work to indicate the beginning of the round.

Shape Crown Charted directions:
Note: Chart 1 is worked 4 times in each round.
For Version 1, work Rounds 1-13 of Chart 1. 68 sts.
For Version 2, work Rounds 1-19 of Chart 1. 100 sts.
Proceed to Hat Body.
Written directions: For Version 1, work Rounds 1-13 below. 68 sts.
For Version 2, work Rounds 1-19 below. 100 sts.
Proceed to Hat Body.
Round 1: [K1, yo, k1] 4 times. 12 sts.
Even numbered Rounds 2- 12 (Version 1) or 2-18 (Version 2): K all sts.
Round 3: [K1, yo, k1, yo, k1] 4 times. 20 sts.
Round 5: [K1, yo, k3, yo, k1] 4 times. 28 sts.
Round 7: [K1, yo, k5, yo, k1] 4 times. 36 sts.
Round 9: [K1, yo, k1, yo, k5, yo, k1, yo, k1] 4 times. 52 sts.
Round 11: [K1, yo, k3, yo, k1, SK2P, k1, yo, k3, yo, k1] 4 times. 60 sts.
Round 13: [K1, yo, k5, yo, SK2P, yo, k5, yo, k1] 4 times. 68 sts.
If making Version 1,
proceed to Hat Body.
Round 15: [K1, yo, k1, yo,
k2, k2tog, k2, yo, k1, yo,
k2, SKP, k2, yo, k1, yo, k1]
4 times. 84 sts.
Round 17: [K1, (yo, k3, yo,
k1, SK2P, k1) twice, yo,
k3, yo, k1] 4 times. 92 sts.
Round 19: [K1, (yo, k5, yo,
SK2P) twice, yo, k5, yo,
k1] 4 times. 100 sts.

Hat Body
Work all sts onto larger
circular needle as follows:
Next Round: [K to last st on
needle, k this st together with
first st of next needle] 4
times. The last st of the
round will be worked
together with the first st of
the round. Place a st marker
after this st to indicate
beginning of round.
64 sts remain for Version 1,
96 sts remain for Version 2.

Work Rounds 1-12 of Leaf Lace pattern twice for Version 1, or 3 times for Version 2.

Ribbed Brim
Next Round: Using smaller circular needle, [p1, k1] to end.
Repeat this round 5 times more for Version 1, or 7 times more for Version 2.

Loosely BO all sts in pattern.
FINISHING
Use tail at CO end to sew up small hole in top of hat. Weave in ends.
Block gently, or do not block at all. The unblocked lace gives a more rustic texture, and the
lace pattern will open up when the hat is worn.