Monday, June 29, 2009

Swirl


A cute swirly topper for your favorite little one...

SWIRL

Materials Needed:

Size 4 16" circular or DPN needles
1 skein Crystal Palace Yarns Mini Mochi (195.0 yds/178.3 m) Colorway 103
Tapestry needle
Scissors

Abbreviations:
CO: cast on
SKP: Slip 1 as if to knit, Knit 1, Pass slipped stitch over
sts: stitches
PM: place marker

Gauge: 24 sts across 4"

Size: 0-3 mos.
(For toddler size, try a worsted weight yarn with size 6 needles.)

Using long-tail method (or other loose cast-on) CO 88 sts.
Join to work in round. PM to denote beginning of round.

Brim:
*Knit 2 rounds. Purl 3 rounds.*
Repeat 4 more times (or once for each color change, depending on your preference).

Knit in round until hat measures 4" from beginning (or desired depth).

Begin Crown:
Purl 4 rounds.

Divide hat into 4 equal parts by placing marker after every 22 sts.

Begin Swirl Top:
SKP after every marker until 4 sts remain.

Work i-cord for 3 inches. BO and tie in knot at top. Weave in any loose ends.

For an alternate "swirlier" top:
Try dividing top into 8 equal parts, and doing the SKP after each marker. This would result in a rounder swirled hat (more like a soft serve ice cream cone as opposed to the square design currently pictured).