earwarmer hat

The son of the office manager of my LSH's practice (got that?) is a member of the NYPD, and an all-around good guy. As a thank you for a particular favor, he asked for a plain black knit cap. I showed his mother all kinds of hats with ribbing or clever square decreases but he didn't want any of those. He wanted as plain a watchcap as possible, and no other color but black in it.

I would have double-knit him a cap for maximum warmth, but I was unsure of my ability to tell the two yarn sources apart without color to guide me (as well as my sanity to knit both sides in black). I had a nice merino superwash in my stash, but I worried it was a bit thin at DK weight. After fiddling around for a bit, I came up with this pattern. The double thickness on the ribbing band should provide a really warm layer for his ears, and the tightly knit top will keep the top of the head warm as well.

Earwarmer Hat

Size: Adult

Materials: 250 yards of DK weight yarn (make the ribbing slightly shorter to use less yarn); I used Jaggerspun Super Lamb 4/8 (100% merino; 1120 yds/1024m per cone); color: black.

Recommended Needle Size:
16 in. US #7/4.5mm circular needle
16 in. US #4/3.5 mm circular needle
Set of US #4/3.5 mm double pointed needles

Tools:
Stitch marker
Yarn needle

Gauge:
With larger needles in rib pattern, 9 st/12 rows = approx. 2 in./5 cm.
With smaller needles in stockinette, 24 st/30 rows = approx. 4 in./10 cm.

With yarn held double, CO 96 stitches using larger needles. PM and join to knit in the round, being careful not to twist.

Start rib of K2, P2. Knit 18 rows in rib with yarn held double. Ribbing measures approx. 3 in.

Switch to smaller circular needles, and drop one strand of yarn. Remainder of hat will be worked with single remaining strand.

Treating each stitch from the larger needle as being composed of two stitches (one from each strand of yarn),
*(k2tog 3 times) k2* repeat from * to * until end of round (120 st.).

Knit in the round in stockinette st until hat measures approx. 4 in./10 cm. from end of ribbing.

Start decreases: *K10 K2tog* repeat from * to * until end of round (110 st).

Knit two rounds in stockinette st.

*K9 K2tog* repeat from * to * until end of round (100 st), knit 2 rounds in stockinette st.

*K8 K2tog* repeat from * to * until end of round (90 st), knit 2 rounds in stockinette st.

*K7 K2tog* repeat from * to * until end of round (80 st), knit 2 rounds in stockinette st.

*K6 K2tog* repeat from * to * until end of round (70 st), knit 1 round in stockinette st.

*K5 K2tog* repeat from * to * until end of round (60 st), knit 1 round in stockinette st. Switch to dpns.

*K4 K2tog* repeat from * to * until end of round (50 st), knit 1 round in stockinette st.

*K3 K2tog* repeat from * to * until end of round (40 st), knit 1 round in stockinette st.

*K2 K2tog* repeat from * to * until end of round (30 st), knit 1 round in stockinette st.

*K1 K2tog* repeat from * to * until end of round (20 st), knit 1 round in stockinette st.

*K2tog* repeat from * to * until end of round (10 st).

*K2tog* repeat from * to * until end of round (5 st).

Thread yarn through remaining stitches and pull tight.

Weave in all ends.

Fold brim up to wear; adjust depth of brim as preferred.

In other news—Primo's back.