The Tralee Hat uses twisted stitches to showcase hand-dyed yarn depicting a stylized rose motif. We named the hat after Tralee, which is well-known for its international rose festival. Twisted stitches are essentially 2-stitch cables, but knit without a cable needle.

The Tralee Hat is a collaboration with Sweet Paprika Designs, a Canadian indie dyer sister duo. Norwood is their line of yarn that is completely Canadian. The Norbouillet (Rambouillet-cross) fleeces are purchased from Pine Hollow Farm in Ontario, sent to Wellington Fibres (a small mill) for spinning, before being dyed by Sweet Paprika Designs in their Montreal studio.

Level of Difficulty: Moderate

Sizing:
Adult (Adult XL)

Fits head: 56 (63) cm / 22 (24.75)” around, with 0-5 cm / 2” negative ease

Finished circumference: 51 (58) cm / 20 (22.75)”

Finished length: 22 (23) cm / 8.5 (9)”

Yarn:
1 skein Sweet Paprika Norwood
100g / 3.5 oz, approx. 205 m / 225 yds

OR

DK weight Rambouillet or merino wool yarn
160 (200) m
175 (220) yds

(sample shown in Sweet Paprika Norwood in Four Leaf Clover colourway)

Yarn alternatives include:
DROPS Karisma
Malabrigo Arroyo
Madeline Tosh Tosh DK

Needles:
2.5 mm / US 1.5, 40 cm / 16” circular needles for ribbing

3.0 mm / US 2.5, or size required to obtain gauge; 40 cm / 16” circular needles and double pointed needles

Notions:
Stitch markers
Tapestry needle

Gauge:
25 sts and 30 rounds = 10 cm / 4 in, in pattern after blocking

Stitches Used:
K: Knit
P: Purl
K1tbl: Knit through the back loop
LT: left twist; Slip next two stitches knitwise, and return to left needle as if to ssk. Skip first stitch, knit into back of second stitch, and keep on left needle. Knit two together through the back loop and slide off needle.
RT: right twist; Knit two together, keep stitch on left needle. Knit into the first stitch again, and slide off needle.

Pattern Notes:
This hat is knit in the round from the bottom up. Use either the written instructions or follow the chart provided, based on your own preference.