New Pattern: “Frondly”

Quite a while ago, I promised a pattern for a hat-and-scarf set that can be knit from a single skein of Dream in Color’s Classy. This delicious, hand-dyed wool comes with a generous 250 yards to a skein. I treated myself to a single skein and then set myself the task of using up every last inch of it. Here’s the result.

My skein was in the Chinatown Apple colorway (Dream in Color’s web site shows this as a peachy shade, but the hank I got was much more green and gold), so I wanted a pattern that would echo the leafiness of the yarn’s color. I chose a lace from one of Barbara Walker’s stitch dictionaries, then rewrote it to add moss ribs between the lace panels to create a textured, woodsy feel.

If you decide to knit these as a pair, make the hat first. Then you can devote the remaining yarn to making the scarf as long as possible.

Getting Started
Yarn: one skein of Dream in Color Classy (4 oz./250 yards per skein) or equivalent
Needles: 16″ circular, straights, and double-points in U.S. size 8
Notions: 4 stitch markers, yarn needle for weaving in ends, scrap yarn and crochet hook for provisional cast-on (if desired)
Gauge: 4.5 stitches = 1″ in moss

Frondly: The Hat

Note: the band for this hat is knit lengthwise, then joined into a circle. The stitches for the sides and crown of the hat are then picked up along one edge of this band. Use your preferred technique for joining the band. I began with a provisional cast-on, then put these stitches onto a needle after knitting the band and joined the ends using a three-needle bind-off. You could also join the two ends with Kitchener stitch. Or, just used a traditional cat on and bind off, then seam then two ends together, using a yarn needle.

Six-Row Hat Band Stitch Pattern:
Rows 1, 3 and 5 (WS): K 4, P 5, K1, P1
Row 2 (RS): K1, P1, K1, YO, Sl 2 tog K-wise, K1, PSSO, YO, K1, P1, K3
Row 4: K1, P1, K2, YO, SSK, K1, P1, K3
Row 6: K1, P1, K5, P1, K3

Moss Stitch:
Round 1: K1, P1 around
Round 2: P1, K1 around

With the straight needles, cast on 11 stitches using method of your choice.
Work the six-row band stitch, until your knit piece fits comfortably around your head, ending with row 5. (I worked 19 repeats on the sample.)
Join band into a circle using method of your choice.

Using circular needles, pick up stitches between the single K and P rows along one side of the hat band (the other, ribbed edge will serve as the brim of the hat). Pick up approximately 4 stitches for every 5 rows of knitting, being careful to end with a number of stitches divisible by 8. (I picked up 88 stitches.) Place a marker between the first and last picked-up stitches.

Work in the round in moss stitch, until the piece measures 4.5″ from edge of band, ending with a P1, K1 round. On this last round, place a marker 1/4, 1/2, and 3/4 of the way around the hat (in my case, that was every 22 stitches). You will now have four evenly spaced markers placed around your work.

Work decreases as follows, changing to double-points when necessary.
Round 1: K1, P1
Round 2: [P1, K1 until three stitches remain before marker, sl 2 tog K-wise, K1, PSSO] repeat a total of 4 times per round
Repeat these two rounds until 8 stitches remain, then clip the working yarn leaving an 8″ end. Run this counter-clockwise through the live stitches, then pull tight to close the top of the hat. Run this yarn to the inside of the hat. Weave in all ends.

Frondly: The Scarf

Six-Row Scarf Stitch Pattern:
Row 1, 3, and 5 (WS): K3, P5, K3, P5, K3, P5, K3
Row 2 (RS): K1, [K1, P1, K1, YO, Sl 2 tog K-wise, K1, PSSO, YO, K1, P1] 3 times, K2
Row 4: K1, [K1, P1, K2, YO, SSK, K1, P1] 3 times, K2
Row 6: K1, [K1, P1, K5, P1] 3 times, K2

Cast on 27 stitches. Work in six-row scarf stitch pattern, until just enough yarn remains to bind off, ending with row 5. Bind off and weave in ends.

Enjoy!