Geranium Hat was created with colors in mind. While knitting the sample, I kept thinking of my grandmother’s garden in Greece, full of Geranium flowers in every color. I remember her in her beautiful garden, chatting with her friends and sharing stories from the past. So, this hat is named after these beautiful flowers reminiscent of my childhood.

It is worked in a simple slip stitch pattern using a variegated and a contrast yarn. One can play with colors to create one’s own garden of Geranium Hats.

Construction

Geranium Hat is knitted in the round, bottom up. Short rows are used while working the brim to slightly elongate it at the sides and back to cover the ears and protect them from the cold.

It is knitted using 3 yarns! The Shoppel-Wolle Laceball (variegated) yarn is held together with Drops Alpaca (neutral color) yarn (Main Color yarn - MC). Rauma Finull PT2 is used to add specks of contrasting color (Contrasting Color Yarn - CC). The stitch pattern is a simple slip stitch pattern where only one yarn (either MC or CC) is used per round.

You can alternatively substitute the Schoppel-Wolle and Alpaca yarns with a variegated or hand-dyed DK weight yarn. The fun is in selecting the colors of this hat, so play around, use scraps of yarn, and chose a color combination that is fun and exciting!! Your final piece will be squishy, warm, and beautiful!

Techniques used: decreasing, German short rows and following written instructions for a simple stitch pattern. (links to tutorials are included in the Tutorial section).

Skill level: Intermediate

Intended negative ease: 11 – 15cm (4.5 - 6in)

Finished circumference (after blocking, unstretched):

• Size 1: 33.5cm / 13.25in
• Size 2: 38.5cm / 15.25in
• Size 3: 44cm / 17.25in
• Size 4: 49cm / 19.25in

Finished height (at center front):

• Size 1: 17cm / 6.75in
• Size 2: 18.5cm / 7.25in
• Size 3: 20cm / 7.75in
• Size 4: 22.5cm / 8.75in

Yarn:

• (A) Schoppel-Wolle Lace Ball yarn (100g/3.54oz, 800m/875yds, 75% Superwash virgin wool & 25% nylon). Sample photographed in “Durch die Blume” shade (2079).
• (B) Drops Alpaca yarn (50g/1.76oz, 167m/183yds, 100% Peruvian Alpaca). Sample photographed in off white (0100).
• (C) Rauma Finull PT2 yarn (50g/1.76oz, 175m/191yds, 100% Norwegian wool). Sample photographed in bright pink (4686).

Yarn substitution: Schoppel-Wolle and Drops yarns can be substituted with a variegated or hand-dyed DK weight yarn of approximately 115m/126yards per 50g/1.76oz. Approximately 114 (134, 157, 195) m / 125 (147, 172, 213) yards will be required.

Yarn requirements per size:

• Size 1: (A) 1 ball (114m / 125yards), (B) 1 ball (114m / 125yards) (C) 1 ball (46m / 50yards)
• Size 2: (A) 1 ball (134m / 147yards), (B) 1 ball (134m / 147yards) (C) 1 ball (54m / 59yards)
• Size 3: (A) 1 ball (157m / 172yards), (B) 1 ball (157m / 172yards) (C) 1 ball (64m / 70yards)
• Size 4: (A) 1 ball (195m / 213yards), (B) 2 balls (195m / 213yards) (C) 1 ball (81m / 89yards)

Gauge: 23.5 sts and 36.5 rounds in Stockinette stitch pattern over 10cm (4in) with larger needles, after blocking.

Needle size:

• 3.5mm (US4) circular needles, or size required to get gauge.
• Four 3.5mm (US4) double-pointed needles, or same size as gauge needle.
• 3mm (US2.5) circular needles, or size smaller than gauge needle.

Notions: 7 stitch markers, 1 unique stitch marker, 1 pompom (optional), blunt tapestry needle to weave ends.

Measurement units: centimetres & inches

Important pattern notes: the pattern instructions include an Abbreviations & Glossary section, as well as a Tutorial section with links of videos, for easier execution of techniques used.