This hat for me is reminiscent of a whale watching excursion that I went on when I was a teenager. I was totally unprepared for the weather and insisted on what I thought was a very stylish yellow, nautical, hooded jacket, built out of light cotton. The outing was miserable – wet, windy and nary a whale in sight. More of a water watching excursion than anything else. Despite being completely frozen, I stayed determinedly on deck the entire time, while my classmates went to the warm cabin below and sipped hot chocolate. I’m sure the only thing that saved me was a hat, very similar to this one, that I pulled desperately down over my head. I’d like to say that my dedication to staying on deck revealed a whale to me but, alas, it did not! This hat, despite being long gone, has always held a nostalgic place in my stoic, whale-loving heart and it is time to recreate it. This is as close as my memory can get.

The Shore Leave Hat is a simple, cosy, toque with a deep, twisted rib to pop the texture. Worn with a shorter folded brim, it stands up with the perfect hipster boop on the top. That’s the technical term right?! It can also be worn pulled right down with the brim folded deeply, to tuck under a hood and provide extra warmth in truly misty, windy weather.

Materials

165–200 metres / 180–220 yards light worsted weight yarn

I used 2 – 3 skeins Rauma Garn, 3 ply Strikkegarn, colour Dark Yellow (approx. 108 metres/118 yards per 50 grams) Note I only used two skeins but was close to the end of my yarn so part of a third skein may be required for the largest size, depending on your gauge.

3.0 mm needles (US 2.5), in your preferred style for knitting in the round: double pointed needles, 16 inch circular needle changing to double pointed needles, two circular needles of any length, or one long circular needle for magic loop.

4 stitch markers

Gauge

21 sts = 4 inches / 10 cm in twisted rib (k1tbl, p1tbl)
24 rounds = 4 inches / 10 cm in twisted rib (k1tbl, p1tbl)

Sizes

S (M, L)

Finished Measurements

Circumference 19.5 (21, 22.5) inches 49.5 (53, 57) cm ribbing measured flat and unstretched and gently blocked, 1” above cast on edge.
Length of hat 11.5 – 12 inches 29 – 31 cm.
Brim folds up at 2 ¾”
Will comfortably fit head circumference of 21-22 (22-23, 23-24) inches 53-56 (56-58.5, 58.5-61) cm