Oisín Hatby Cathy Mc Fadden

Designed for my nephew Oisín (pronounced Ush-een).

Oisín was one of the mythological band of Irish soldiers

na Fianna, best known for falling in love with Niamh

and being taken away to Tír na nÓg, the land of youth.

Baby, Toddler and Child sized hat in sock yarn (or 4ply). Perfect for using up the ends from

socks or shawls. I suggest a soft and springy merino wool for stretchiness without itching.

Try to keep your stitches loose while changing yarn on the stranded rows, a springy wool

will be forgiving. I threw one colour yarn with my forefinger (so the strands were above) and

the main colour with my middle finger so the strands (floats) were below, this makes the con-

trast colour stand out well. To help prevent the stranded section from pulling in, try knitting

inside out or use a slightly larger needle for the stranded rounds. For more information on

stranded knitting check out techknitter’s blog.

Techknitter also provides some great insight into jog-less stripes, as does Craftsy. For this

pattern the best method is to slip the first stitch of the 2nd round of each new colour. This

leaves elongated stitches along the join line, which can pull a little, but involves less fiddling

about than the travelling join method.

The hat is knit from brim to crown so using a stretchy cast on is essential. I recommend the

cable cast on because it is stretchy and doesn’t waste yarn. Bring the yarn in between the left

and right needle before slipping the last stitch over.

Sneaky tip for casting on: Cast all stitches onto ONE needle. Knit the first row (in 2x2 rib

here) onto dpns, roughly 1/3 of stitches to each dpn. Then join in the round. This way it’s

much harder to twist your stitches and much easier to spot before joining! I often cast on an

extra stitch and knit the last stitch of the row together with the first stitch of the round.

Sizing: Circumference is 11 (12, 13, 14, 15½, 16½, 17½, 19) inches (not stretched).

Allowing for 1-2 inches of negative ease, the hat should fit heads from 13 - 21 inches.

Estimated sizes are: preemie, newborn, 0-3 months, 3-6 months, 6-12 months, 12-18 months,

toddler and child. Total height 5 - 8 inches.

These are generous sizes, ideally measure the head and minus 1" for ease.

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You will need:

13g -35g Main colour (A) - orange (Malabrigo sock in terracotta)

4g -10g Contrast colour (B) - brown (Laura Hogan sock)

2.75mm and 3mm (US 2 and US 2½) needles for small circ. knitting (DPNS or cable needles

for magic loop)

Gauge:

Approx 29st per 4 inches in stockinette on larger needles.

Directions:

With smaller needles:

With main colour A, cable cast on 80 (88,

96, 104, 112, 120, 128, 136) sts.

Join to work in the round.

Knit in 2x2 rib for 6 (7, 8, 9, 9, 10, 11, 11)

rounds: (k2 p2) repeat to end of round.

Switch to larger needles.

Knit 1 round A

Knit 2 rounds B

Knit 2 rounds A

Knit 2 rounds B

Knit 1 round A

(k1 A, k1 B) repeat to end of round

Knit 1 round A

(k1 B, k1 A) repeat to end of round

Repeat last four rounds once.

Knit 1 round A

Knit 2 rounds B

Knit 2 rounds A

Knit 2 rounds B

Knit all rounds in main colour (A) until

work measures 3.5 (4, 4.5, 5, 5, 5.5, 6, 6.5)

inches from cast on edge.

Decreases for the crown:

(k6 k2tog) repeat to end of round

Knit 2 rounds

(k5 k2tog) repeat to end of round

Knit 2 rounds

(k4 k2tog) repeat to end of round

Knit 1 round

(k3 k2tog) repeat to end of round

Knit 1 round

(k2 k2tog) repeat to end of round

Knit 1 round

(k1 k2tog) repeat to end of round

Knit 1 round

k2tog around until 5 or 6 stitches left.

Cut yarn, thread the end through the live

stitches and weave in.

Weave in all remaining ends.

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