This is a pattern from my book, Lovely Lace Knits.

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I love to see how the beauty of nature appears everywhere, even in the details of its smallest elements. Feathers are a great example of tiny natural perfection. Lighter than air but surprisingly strong, they keep the birds warm and they make it possible for them to fly. As an added bonus, birds’ plumages are incredibly beautiful.

This pattern comes from my desire to own a knitted plumage of my own. To create it, I observed feathers and played with lace stitches until the pattern resembled my winged friends’ assets. The hat is made of several “feathers” worked side by side. Each of them starts as a large pattern and narrows towards the top of the hat. At this point, the distinction between feathers fades away to form a flower on the back of your head. The double ribbing made from a provisional cast-on makes a neat finishing and adds some extra warmth to this openwork pattern.

Construction
This hat is worked in the round from the bottom up, starting with a provisional cast on that is undone once the ribbing is completed. The ribbing is then folded to create a double layer brim. The body and the crown of the hat are worked in a lace pattern.

Skill Level
Intermediate

Sizes
Child (Adult S, Adult L)
Brim circumference 17.75 (20.25, 23) inches / 45 (51, 58) cm

Recommended ease
To be worn with approximately 1 inch (2.5 cm) of negative ease at the brim.

Yarn
DK weight, Sweet Georgia Superwash DK (100% Superwash Merino), 256 yds (234 m) per 115-g skein

Yardage/Meterage
149 (194, 244) yds / 136 (177, 223) m

Shown In
Slate (1 skein)

Any DK weight yarn can be used for this pattern. I recommend using a soft fiber that won’t be itchy on the forehead.