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This is an any-gauge pattern, designed specifically to use busy variegated colorways in any weight yarn, which may not look their best in plain stitch patterns, and would hide complex patterns like lace or cables. This hat uses slip stitches to really show off the colors in the variegation. You’ll work the easy stitch pattern in the hat’s body by watching the colors in the yarn and working your stitches according to the color changes.

The woven slip stitch pattern was loosely inspired by basic potholder loom type weaving many of us remember fondly from childhood; simple over and under weaving that anyone can master, no knowledge of warp & weft required! (The wooden loom pictured on the cover was my actual loom with the in-progress project still on it from when I was around 6 years old.)

The hat’s brim is a chevron stitch pattern, with slip stitches to match the body, meant to vaguely look like a knotted chevron friendship bracelet, another fun crafty childhood memory for many of us.

Misanga is a Japanese word for a friendship bracelet, or a handmade good luck bracelet - the kind of bracelet that was the inspiration for the brim, and that you see pictured throughout the pattern. (You’ll find links to tutorials for making a few at the end!)

This pattern is part of the Coloring Book ebook, which is a collection of knit accessory patterns all designed to to make the most of your colors! While this pattern is for a single variegated yarn, the rest of the collection patterns are for multiple yarns in different colors.

Colors
This stitch pattern is completely dependent on the color variegation in your chosen yarn. Use a yarn with at least 3 different colors in the variegation, and which has some good contrast between the different colors.
You need to pick a yarn which switches colors quickly (not gradually blending between the colors), with short-ish color sections. Color runs around 2-6 inches / 5-15 cm long are ideal, but up to around 10 inches / 25 cm will work okay. Also, if using bulky or super bulky, it’s best if runs are more than 2 inches / 5 cm long (at least 3 or 4 inches / 8 or 10 cm).

Sizing
The hat is sized as you knit, from the top down, by measuring and/or trying it on your head as you work. The dense brim will pull the hat in around the bottom.

You need
a variegated yarn in any weight, with color runs 2-10 inches / 5-25 cm long (yardage varies depending on size)
-- bulky: 80-140 yards / 70-130 meters
-- worsted: 130-180 yards / 120-160 meters
-- sport: 170-220 yards / 160-200 meters
-- fingering: 200-280 yards / 180-260 meters
needles sized to match yarn
-- a long circular to work magic loop method
-- or a set of double pointed needles and a 16 inch / 40 cm circular
-- optional needle a couple sizes larger
6 stitch markers (5 the same color/type, 1 different)
a yarn needle
optional pom pom maker