Born of my love of color, this hat was inspired by Steven West’s Spectra scarf. http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/spectra

This piece utilizes two different sock weight yarns, one yarn to form the frame and one to sit inside the frame. From the top, the crown looks like the spokes of an umbrella. It is not difficult but it will require your focus until you get past the first panel. This hat is knitted and purled crossing yarns to switch between the two colors. It is worked flat and discretely seamed up the back, so those who have not tried to work in the round, need not fear. The stockinette panels can be worked with several different yarns, alternating colors, or going from dark to light, or around the color wheel, rainbow style. Have fun, play with your colors. The “ribs” are knit in between the color panels to frame the panels. The ribs also have the effect of adding stretch. Enjoy!

Pattern note;
The “yardage used” listing on Ravelry allows for just one set of numbers, but there are two different yarns used here. You will need just over 100 yards of the Vail baby alpaca blend or your yarn of choice for the ‘frames’ or the ‘A’ yarn, and about 150 yards of the Mini Mochi merino blend or the color highlighting ‘B’ yarn.

Somehow the information for this pattern became corrupted in the system. Hopefully it is now repaired.

This is so much easier to do now that the pattern is finished. I must be using tighter tension though because I need another framed color panel (14 this time) to get it to fit my head … !

** Note to other knitters, span the hem band around, or measure your product against, wearer’s head before binding off.