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Hat Description

Bóithrín is a fitted striped Hat, with options for a beanie or square top crown. The Hat is worked sideways, with stocking stitch sections in colour A and reverse stocking stitch sections in colour B, and a minimal brim in colour A. The beanie uses short row shaping so that the crown decreases to a centre point in colour A, with alternating sections of colours A and B building out into the stripes of the body. The square top option is worked as a flat tube that is seamed across the top.

Pattern Availability

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Pattern Support

If you have a question about this pattern, pop it in a comment below. Sorry, but I’m unable to help with my free patterns or tutorials via email or private messages.

Social Media

Share your hand-knit Hats online with these hashtags!
#WoollyWormhead
#WWBoithrinHat

Yarn

100g/190yd/178m in both Yarn A and Yarn B
Worsted weight, single ply or plied yarn.

Needles & Notions

Pair 4.5mm/UK7/US7 straight needles or size needed to obtain gauge
4.5mm crochet hook
Approx. 2yd/2m waste yarn
Stitch marker as necessary
Tapestry needle

Sample Details

Shown in Ewe Ewe Wooly Worsted [95yd/86m per 50g; 100% Superwash Merino]

Both versions shown in size 20in/50.75cm on model with 20in/50.75cm circumference head

Gauge

20 sts x 26 rows to 4in/10cm on 4.5mm needles over Stocking Stitch

Sizes

To fit sizes: 15 [17, 20] in/38 [43.25, 50.75] cm
Finished size: 12.25 [14.75, 17.25] in/31 [37.5, 43.75] cm
Finished depth: 5.75 [6.25, 6.75] in/14.5 [15.75, 17.25] cm

Not sure which size to make? Check my handy size and measuring guide!

Skills Required

Crochet Provisional cast-on
Wrap & Turn Short Rows
Grafting Stocking Stitch
Sideways Draw-through Bind-off
Blocking a Hand Knit Hat

Abbreviations

K: knit
P: purl
st(s): stitch(es)
rpt: repeat
SR: perform short row

How To – Square Top Version

Using waste yarn and Provisional Cast-on method, cast on 28 [31, 34] sts. Change to Yarn A and work panel as follows:

Row 1 (WS): With Yarn A, knit to end

Row 2 (RS): With Yarn A, purl to end

Row 3: With Yarn A, knit to end

Row 4: With Yarn A, P3, with Yarn B, purl to end.

Row 5: With Yarn B, P 25 [28, 31], with Yarn A, P3.

Row 6: With Yarn A, K3, with Yarn B, knit to end.

Row 7: With Yarn B, P 25 [28, 31], with Yarn A, P3.

Row 8: With Yarn A, purl across all sts

Repeat these 8 rows a total of 10 [12, 14] times. On the last repeat, omit the final row as this will be replaced by the grafting.

How To – Beanie Version

Using waste yarn and Provisional Cast-on method, cast on 28 [31, 34] sts. Change to Yarn A and work panel as follows:

Row 1 (WS): With Yarn A, knit across all sts

Row 2 (RS): With Yarn A, P 27 [30, 33], SR

Row 3: With Yarn A, knit to end

Row 4: With Yarn A, P3, with Yarn B, P 23 [26, 29], SR

Row 5: With Yarn B, P 23 [26, 29], with Yarn A, P3

Row 6: With Yarn A, K3, with Yarn B, K 22 [25, 28], SR

Row 7: With Yarn B, P 22 [25, 28], with Yarn A, P3

Row 8: With Yarn A, P 24 [27, 30], SR

Row 9: With Yarn A, knit to end

Row 10: With Yarn A, P 23 [26, 29], SR

Row 11: With Yarn A, knit to end

Row 12: With Yarn A, P3, with Yarn B, P19 [22, 25], SR

Row 13: With Yarn B, P19 [22, 25], with Yarn A, P3

Row 14: With Yarn A, K3, with Yarn B, K18 [21, 24], SR

Row 15: With Yarn B, P18 [21, 24], with Yarn A, P3

Row 16: With Yarn A, purl across all sts, working across the short rows as you go

Repeat these 16 rows a further 4 [5, 6] times for a total of 5 [6, 7] repeats. On the last repeat, omit the final row as this will be replaced by the grafting.

Finishing

Carefully remove Provisional Cast-on stitch by stitch, taking care to keep in pattern, transferring live stitches to 2nd needle.

When grafting across short rows, you will treat the short rows in exactly the same way as you have throughout the pattern.

If you picked up the wrap (from the RS) then worked into the back of the stitch+wrap previously you will need to do the same for the graft – to do this lift both the wrap and stitch off and twist towards you, and then place back on the needle and perform Stocking Stitch Kitchener as normal. If you worked into the front of the stitch+wrap previously you do not need to twist them during the graft.

You will be grafting from the bottom of the Hat up.

Square Top version: once the graft is complete fold work in half and either slip stitch or mattress stitch across, closing the top.

Beanie version: once the graft is complete, thread yarn through edge stitches and pull to tighten to close the crown.

Weave in all ends. Blocking isn’t necessary. However, should you wish, gently wash Hat and dry flat.

This pattern was originally published in Petite Purls, Issue 11 Winter 2012.

Bóithrín (pronounced ‘Boreen’) is Irish for ‘a little road’.

 

My little boy loves cars. And trucks. And bikes. And aeroplanes. And motorbikes. And lorries. And diggers. And cranes. And trains. And buses, which is pretty handy, as we live in a bus. It doesn’t matter whether it’s an old rusty banger or slick stickered racing car, if it moves and makes a noise, he wants one.

 

And so this Hat, inspired by race tracks, road markings and tyre treads came to be. Bóithrín is the perfect Hat for kids obsessed with vehicles, a modern take on the classic intarsia motif pieces and the perfect project to practice a few new techniques.

Need Help With This Pattern?

If you’ve a question about this pattern, please pop it in the comments below and I’ll get back to you as soon as I can! I’m afraid I’m unable to offer help via email or private message, but you’re welcome to post in our forum.

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