» photos: Lyndsey Deeds » model: Arianna

Foxtrotter

By Lyndsey Deeds

When my oldest daughter was just a little tyke, she insisted that she was a horse. She wouldn't eat with utensils or walk on two feet when possible. When asked why, she would put her hands on her hips, and huff, "Cause horses don't do that!" It only seemed fitting that her winter hat this year paid tribute to an eight year love of horses, and all those jeans with worn out knees!
This hat should win over horse lovers everywhere, knit with wool to keep little heads toasty, and adorned with a horse and petite snowflakes and horseshoes.

SIZE

Toddler [Child]

Shown in Child

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS

Hat Circumference: 16.75[19.25] inches
Hat Depth: 7.25[8] inches

MATERIALS

Cascade Yarns Cascade 220 [100% wool; 220 yards/201 meters per 3.5 ounce/100 gram skein];

8891 Turquoise [MC]; 1 skein
8505 White [CC1]; 1 skein
8393 Navy [CC2]; 1 skein

Recommended needle sizes

US #7/4.50 mm double pointed needles
12 inch US #5/3.75 mm circular needle
12 inch US #7/4.50 mm circular needle

NOTIONS

Stitch markers
Tapestry needle
Safety pin or tape (to hold yarn for braids)

GAUGE

20 sts and 26 rows = 4 inches in St st on larger needles.

PATTERN NOTES

The hat will not be stretchy because of the yarn being carried along the back side. Be sure your st gauge is correct.

Charts - When working in rnds, always follow chart from right to left. When working in rows, on RS rows, follow chart from right to left; on WS rows, follow chart from left to right.

Pom Poms - You will need to make three pom poms for this hat using your preferred method. I wrap the yarn around the palm of my hand, then tie it in the center securely. The more you trim a pom pom, the fluffier it will be.

Braids - You can safety pin the yarn to a pillow or your lap, or tape it to a secure surface to hold it while you braid.

Skills Required

Knit in the round, knit on dpn's, fair isle, pom-pom's.

INSTRUCTIONS

RIBBING

With smaller needles and CC1, cast on 84[96] sts; join to work in the round, being careful not to twist sts. Mark beginning of round with st marker.
Rnd 1: Work in k2, p2 ribbing around.
Change to MC and continue working in 2x2 ribbing for 6 (10) rnds.

BODY

Rnds 1 and 2: Knit around.
Rnds 3 and 4: Knit around following Chart A.

Rnds 5-7: Knit around.
Rnd 8 (Set up rnd): K12, pm, k1[4], pm, k31, pm, k1[4], * pm, k12, pm, k1[3]; repeat from * 2 times more.
Rnd 9: Work Rnd 1 of Chart C, pm, k1[4], pm, work Rnd 1 of Chart B, pm, , k1[4], * pm, Work Rnd 1 of Chart C, pm, k1[3]; repeat from * 2 times more.

Rnds 10-20: Continue working Chart C in the 12-st sections, Chart B in the 31-st section and remaining sts in St st.

Rnd 21: With MC knit around removing all markers excluding the marker for the beginning of the rnd.
Rnds 22-26: Knit around following Chart D.

With MC, knit 0[2] rnds.

Crown Shaping

Switch to dpns when sts become too tight to knit comfortably.
Rnd 1: * K10, k2tog; repeat from * around: 77[88] sts.
Rnd 2: Knit around.
Rnd 3: * K9, k2tog; repeat from * around: 70[80] sts.
Rnd 4: Knit around.
Rnd 5: * K8, k2tog; repeat from * around: 63[72] sts.
Rnd 6: Knit around.
Rnd 7: * K7, k2tog; repeat from * around: 56[64] sts.
Rnd 8: Knit around.

Rnd 9: * K6, k2tog; repeat from * around: 49[56] sts.
Rnd 11: Knit around.
Rnd 12: * K5, k2tog; repeat from * around: 42[48] sts.
Rnd 13: Knit around.
Rnd 14: * K4, k2tog; repeat from * around: 35[40] sts.
Rnd 15: Knit around.
Rnd 16: * K3, k2tog; repeat from * around: 28[32] sts.
Rnd 17: * K2, k2tog; repeat from * around: 21[24] sts.
Rnd 18: * K4, k2tog; repeat from * around: 14[16] sts.
Rnd 19: K2tog around: 7[8] sts.
Cut yarn, and pull yarn through the remaining sts.

EAR FLAP

With WS of hat facing and working on the inside of the hat above the ribbing, pick up 17 sts where you want your first ear flap to be positioned. I have the horse off-center with my ear flaps.
Row 1 (RS): K1, p1, work Row 1 of Chart E, p1, k1.

Row 2: K1, P1, work Row 2 of Chart E, p1, k1.
Rows 3-10: K1, p1, work next row of Chart E, p1, k1.
Rows 11 and 12: K1, p1, k2tog, work next row of Chart E, k2tog, p1, k1: 13 sts.
Row 13: K1, p1, k2tog, k5, k2tog, p1, k1: 11 sts.
Row 14: K1, p1, p2tog, p3, p2tog, p1, k1: 9 sts.
Row 15: K1, p1, k2tog, k1, k2tog, p1, k1: 7 sts.
Row 16: K1, p1, p3tog, p1, k1: 5 sts.
Bind off remaining sts.
Repeat for second Ear Flap, picking up sts opposite first Ear Flap.

BRAIDS (make 2)

Cut 21, 25-inch strands (7 each of MC, CC1, and CC2). Tie the top of the strands together, secure, and braid loosely. 25-inches makes approximately an 8-inch braid. Tie the bottom of the braid securely with yarn.
Repeat for second braid.

POM POMS

Using your preferred method, make a large CC1 pom pom for the top of the hat and 2 smaller pom poms for the ends of the braids.

FINISHING

Attach a braid to each Ear Flap securely with a tapestry needle and yarn. Attach the CC1 pom pom to the top of the hat by looping through the center yarn and sewing it securely to the hat. Attach the multi-colored pom poms to the end of the braid securely. Trim the bottom of the braid to match the length of the pom poms. Sew in all loose ends.

Weave in all ends

Lyndsey's clinical obsession with knitting sprang from a love of fashion and a need for thrift. She is known for keeping knitting needles in her diaper bag, toddlers in her yarn supply and a flask of coffee at hand. She chronicles her latest crafty endeavors and life with four wild things on her blog.