Our love for the Hearts & Arrows Hat has only gotten bigger, thus, this worsted version has won our hearts. This stranded colorwork hat features a repeating design of hearts and arrows. Bigger arrows and bigger hearts make this hat perfect for Valentine’s Day.
Skill Level: Intermediate
Size: Finished Circumference 18.25 (20, 21.75)”
2-3” negative ease recommended.
Shown in size 20”
Gauge: 20 sts and 24 rows = 4” [10 cm] in stranded St st after wet blocking
Materials
Yarn: Malabrigo Merino Worsted (100% merino wool; 210 yards [192 meters]/100 grams): 508 Blue Graphite (MC, 1 ball for all sizes), 63 Natural (CC1, 1 ball for all sizes), 242 Amor Intenso (CC2, 1 ball for all sizes)
Needles: US 7 (4.5mm) 16” circular needles and dpns
Notions: Marker, tapestry needle, 3” pompom maker or faux fur pompom
Pattern Notes
When working the stranded sections, bring the contrast color under the main (background) color.
Pattern
Using circular needle and MC, CO 88 (96, 104) sts. Join to work in the round and PM for BOR.
Work in K2P2 ribbing for 1.5” as follows:
Rnd 1: *K2, p2* to end.
Repeat Round 1 for K2P2 ribbing.
Next Rnd: K, increasing 2 (3, 4) sts evenly—90 (99, 108) sts.
Knit 2 rounds.
Join CC1 and begin working from Heart and Arrow Chart. Chart will repeat 10 (11, 12) times around hat. Join CC2 when necessary.
Crown Decreases
When Chart is complete, break contrast yarns and continue with MC. Work in St st until hat measures 7.25” from cast on.
Crown Decreases
Rnd 1: *K7, k2tog; rep from * to end—9 (10, 11) sts dec’d.
Rnd 2: Knit.
Rnd 3: *K6, k2tog; rep from * to end.
Rnd 4: Knit.
Rnd 5: *K5, k2tog; rep from * to end.
Rnd 6: *K4, k2tog; rep from * to end.
Rnd 7: *K3, k2tog; rep from * to end.
Rnd 8: *K2, k2tog; rep from * to end.
Rnd 9: *K1, k2tog; rep from * to end.
Rnd 10: *K2tog; rep from * to end.
Break yarn and draw through remaining sts, cinching tight.
Finishing
Weave in ends and block.
Either tie a faux fur pompom to the top of the hat, or make one using one strand each of MC and CC1 (or any combination you prefer.)