This is another variation on the pussyhat. I still have quite a few more requests to fill, and I’m trying to keep it interesting.

Yarn held double throughout.

I started with the Bits & Bobs in Brioche pattern, but didn’t stick with it for long. Whatever made me think brioche would be a good choice for a hat that needed to be finished quickly? It’s a charming pattern that creates a delightful fabric, but knitting each row twice doesn’t make for speed.

I worked the I-cord stitches and picked up stitches as written.

I worked about ten more rows of brioche rib than the pattern calls for, because I just love how it looks (I adore corrugated rib but hate that it has so little give, so 2-color brioche rib makes a good substitute). Instead of adding a new color every four rows, I just reversed the two I was using. I messed up the first few rows of brioche moss stitch, but it looks good anyway. Then I got tired of working in two colors and decided to make it solid the rest of the way. After about an inch of that, I realized this hat was going to take a whole extra day to make, so I converted to stockinette (increasing by knitting each yo tbl as a separate stitch) and finished it off in stripes. And of course, to get the pussyhat shape, no crown decreases.

Notes on gauge: I used WM Pure and WM Twin held double, which is the equivalent of a light worsted weight. I used a US6 needle (Us6 or US5 is my preferred needle for stockinette with this yarn held double). My gauge is larger than the pattern gauge, and I should have gone down one or even two needle sizes. Still, I like this puffy fabric.

Worked in stockinette stripes until it was nearly 9 inches. It makes a nice slouchy hat and the ears still stand up.

I love the look of the squishy brioche ribbing! and I like how it transitions into stockinette. I don’t love the I-cord edge--it looks great but doesn’t stretch. This is written to be a truly slouchy hat. Problem is that Stephen makes his I-cord very loosely and I always forget and make mine tight. It makes a big difference in this case! But I gave it a good stretch during blocking and I’m actually quite happy with it. This is a cute fun hat! It gave me some good ideas for the next one.

The colors are a juicy fuchsia (WM Fuchsia) and a medium salmon (WM Nichts), but my camera is particularly red-impaired so you’ll have to take my word for it.

.3 skeins (173 yds) Nichts
.4 skeins (230 yds) Fuchsia