Feb 23, 2021:
The Ole Hat pattern begins with a Long Tail Tubular Cast On. The pattern is half Fisherman’s Rib which creates a very stretchy fabric. So you knit at a fairly tight gauge on smaller needles and cast on fewer stitches than with regular ribbing.

Long Tail Tubular Cast On 104 sts on US #2.5 straight needles. Worked 2 set up rows as directed.

Transferred to a 16” circular needle US #2.5 and worked the ribbing for 3.2”.

Worked body for 85 rounds, 5.8”. The hat is 9” tall before starting decreases.

I worked the Left Double Decrease as instructed in the pattern and worked the Right Double Decrease as described below (I liked the look better):

Right Double Decrease: Brioche Right Slanting Decrease
Slip 1st shawled st knitwise, k the next purl st, slip the first slipped st over the k st, transfer st to the left needle, slip the next shawled st over the st with the working yarn.

Worked decreases as in the pattern. It added 3” to the hat length.

Measurements Blocked:
Length: 12”
Width: 7”

Notes for next time: The hat is beautiful but too big and it is entirely my fault. Fisherman’s rib really expands upon washing and blocking. Beware!

The hat was meant for my husband. His head circumference is 22” and he has a long head. I had initially cast on 96 sts and knit to 7” including cuff. It seemed it would be too small. So I frogged, cast on 104 sts and made the hat. Now it is too big and with 20/20 hindsight, 96 sts would have been plenty. It expands a LOT with washing and blocking.

The hat as knit (I knit 9” before starting decreases) is one-inch too tall for my husband’s long head. Like most older men, he likes his hat close-fitting with no slouch. So if I were to do this for him, I would cast on 96 sts and knit up to 8.25” before starting the decreases.

My choice of yarn makes the hat soft and slouchy. If I wanted the pointy stiff look (like on the pattern page), I should have used a stiffer (tightly plied) yarn.

Overall, it’s lovely pattern and yields a very warm, functional hat that’s a breeze to make. I don’t have the heart to frog this hat and my husband still needs a hat. So, I’ll be making more.