Free the Pony Tail Beanie

By Gabicita Creations

Materials:

Isaac Mizrahi- Craft – One skein (or other worsted weight yarn of your choice)

Either an I (5.5 mm) hook, or J (6.00 mm) hook, depending on how tight or loose you like your stitches.

One 1in. diameter elastic ponytail:

NOTES to picky hookers:
-This hat is worked in from the top to the bottom, using mainly fpdc stitches.
-The start of the rounds changes a little bit after the increases stop. Look for the “tricky” indications.
-There is the option of using fptr instead of fpdc to make the hat bigger or less tight. However, it you live in a very cold place, you need to know that the spaces between stitches are going to be bigger and the wind may sneak through.
-That being said, if you are a fan of the feel and look of fptr rather than fpdc, this problem can be easily fixed by lining the hat with a 4-inch-wide band of fleece around the circumference of the head.
-The elastic pony tail makes it very easy to pull the pony tail through, and it also allows for buns (regular or man-buns) or braids to pass easily through the opening.

Rd1: using the elastic pony-tail as the center ring, sl st inside the ring and then do 24 sc into the ring. Join.

Rd2: Ch2 (counts as 1st dc) and then dc in each of the next 23 sc around. Join. (24 stitches)

Here it can get tricky:

Beg. increase = ch2 and fpdc in the SAME stich. This means that the ch2 will be sort of hidden behind the fpdc.

Increase = dc and fpdc in the SAME stitch. This means the dc will be sort of hidden behind the fpdc.

Rd3: Beg. Increase on the first ch2 of the previous round, and then increase in each of the next 23 dc. Join. (48 stitches)

Rd4: Beg. Increase on the first ch2 of the previous round. 1 Fpdc in each of the next 3 stitches. (Increase, 1 fpdc in each of the next 3 stiches) around. Join. (60 Stitches) Take hook out of loop.

This is where it gets trickier:

Rd5: At the join, insert the hook from back to front and pull the last loop to the back, then ch2. (These ch2 will hide behind the fpdc and form a sort of seam inside the hat, allowing the next stitch to show in the outside and no visible seam).

Then, 1 fpdc in the first ch2 of the PREVIOUS round. 1 fpdc in each of the following 49 stitches. Join.

Repeat round 5 until you have the desired length.

Final round: At the join, insert the hook from back to front and pull the last loop to the back, then ch2. 1fphdc in the same stitch and in each of the next 49 stitches. Join. Finish off, and weave in the ends.

Keep your stitches nice and tight! And let me know how your hat turned out!!

Love!
Gabicita.