O'Kitten's One-Skein Hat Pattern

One-Skein Cascading Leaves Beanie

I’m new to lace, and I liked the Cascading Leaves pattern so much that I decided to try making a hat out of it. I got a skein of beautiful rosy Savanna yarn from my fantastic PRGE SP, and the whole thing worked out so beautifully that I wanted to share my pattern.

The lace is very simple and twines like a cable. I tried to work the decreases to keep the faux-cable going; that’s why the decrease rounds are a little wacky.


SIZE: Smaller version: About 23 in (58 cm) on head [20 in (51 cm) unstretched] circumference, 7 in (18 cm) from brim to crown
Larger version: About 26 in (66 cm) [23 in (58 cm) unstretched] circumference, 9 in (23 cm) from brim to crown. Directions for larger version are {given in brackets}.


MATERIALS: Worsted weight yarn to achieve gauge (I used Savanna alpaca-linen-new wool-nylon), less than one 80 m (86 yd) skein for smaller version. You will need more yarn for larger version!

1 set US #7 16” circular needles
1 set US #7 double-point needles
5{6} stitch markers

GAUGE: 16 sts and 24 rows = 4 in (10 cm) in stockinette stitch; one repeat of 8-row lace pattern is about 3 1/2 in (9 cm) wide and 1 1/2 in (4 cm) high

Cascading Leaves Pattern (adapted from Debbie Bliss’ How to Knit):
Notes: skpo = Slip 1 knitwise, knit 1, then pass slipped stitch over knitted stitch and off the needle.
On row 1, make sure your yo (yarn over) makes a new stitch. You sort have to bring the yarn around twice on the first yo to make the loop before the first purl stitch. (Counting the stitches between markers helps; there’ll always be 16.)

Row 1: [K3, k2tog, k1, yo, p2, yo, k1, skpo, k3, p2] Repeat 5{6} times.
Row 2 (and every even row): [K6, p2] Repeat for entire round.
Row 3: [K2, k2tog, k1, yo, k1, p2, k1, yo, k1, skpo, k2, p2] Repeat 5{6} times.
Row 5: [K1, k2tog, k1, yo, k2, p2, k2, yo, k1, skpo, k1, p2] Repeat 5{6} times.
Row 7: [K2tog, k1, yo, k3, p2, k3, yo, k1, skpo, p2] Repeat 5{6} times.
Row 8: [K6, p2] Repeat for entire round.


DIRECTIONS:

Cast on 80{96} sts.

Ribbing:
Round 1–4: Knit in 2 x 2 rib [k2, p2] for entire round, every round. On last round, place a stitch marker every 16 sts.
For larger version only: Knit 4 more rounds 2 x 2 rib (8 rounds total). Note that this changes the round numbering. I’m not going to confuse things by re-numbering the rounds all the rounds to follow; I think you can figure that out.

Lace Pattern:
Round 5–12: Knit Cascading Leaves pattern (Rows 1–8 as above).
Round 13–20: Repeat Cascading Leaves pattern.
Round 21–28: Repeat Cascading Leaves pattern. (Three repeats of pattern total.)
For larger version only: Repeat Cascading Leaves pattern. (Four repeats of pattern total.)

You’ve now have about 4 1/2–5 in (12–13 cm) {6 1/2–7 in (17–18 cm)} of hat.

Decreases:
Make decreases as follows:

Round 29: [K3, k2tog, k1, yo, p2, k1, skpo, k3, p2] Repeat 5{6} times. (75{90} sts) Note: The decreases are created by skipping the yo before each marker.
Round 30: [K6, p2, k5, p2] Repeat for entire round.
Round 31: [K2, k2tog, k1, yo, k1, p2, k1, skpo, k2, p2] Repeat 5{6} times. (70{84} sts)
Round 32: [K6, p2, k4, p2] Repeat for entire round.
Round 33: [K1, k2tog, k3, p2, k1, skpo, k1, p2] Repeat 5{6} times. (60{72} sts) Note: Now the decreases are made by skipping both the yo’s between each marker.
Round 34: [K5, p2, k3, p2] Repeat for entire round.
Round 35: [K2tog, k3, p2, k1, skpo, p2] Repeat 5{6} times. (50{60} sts)
Round 36: [K4, p2, k2, p2] Repeat for entire round.

Switch to dpns when necessary.

Round 37: [K2, k2tog, p2, skpo, p2] Repeat 5{6} times. (40{48} sts)
Round 38: [K3, p2, k1, p2] Repeat for entire round.
Round 39: [K1, k2tog, p2, skpo, p1] Repeat 5{6} times. (30{36} sts)
Round 40: [K2 tog, p2, k1, p1] Repeat for entire round. (25{30} sts)
Round 41: [K1, p2, skpo] Repeat for entire round. (20{24} sts)
Round 42: [K1, p1, skpo] Repeat for entire round. (15{18} sts)
Round 43: [K1, skpo] Repeat for entire round. (10{12} sts)
Round 44: [skpo] Repeat for entire round. (5{6} sts)

Break yarn and pull tail through last 5{6} stitches. Secure end inside hat.


If you find any errors in this pattern (although I hope you won’t), please email me (sohopixieATtdsDOTnet) and I’ll fix them pronto. Likewise, if you make a Cascading Leaves beanie or a variation of it, do send me a picture or a link to your blog because I’d love to know how it turns out!



Update 15 June: BlackCrow made this hat using Jo Sharp Silk Road Aran Tweed. It's beautiful, and her photos are much lovelier than mine. Take a look!