We went to a holiday party with a group of friends last night, wherein there was the sort of gift exchange where everyone brings something anyone (age/gender) might like, and divvying them up is a game. The limit was 20 bucks and I, naturally, wanted to knit something. I thought a simple Regular Guy Beanie would fit the criteria, so I made it in a nice pale blue, but it was just too austere to put in the gift pile. So I remade it in that Cascade Magnum Mediterranean formerly seen on my dinner plate, and it was the big hit of the night!

To make the pattern work with the super bulky yarn, I pretty much just cut everything in half, including the decrease rows, and used a bigger needle for the ribbing than the body of the hat. The stitch count is now such that it easily divides onto three DPNs when the time comes, and the steps are then even simpler than simple.

To fit a bigger head, add any multiple of 3 stitches, so they still divide evenly onto the DPNs for the decrease rounds.

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P A T T E R N

Materials:

• 1/2 skein Cascade Yarns Magnum
• #13 x 24″ circular needle (or DPNs)
• #11 x 24″ circular needle (or DPNs)
• #11 DPNs
• stitch marker

Directions:

On #13 x 24″ circular, CO 42 sts, place marker
Work in K2, P2 rib for 7 rounds or until about 2″
Next round, knit all sts using #11 x 24″ circular (so all sts are transferred onto smaller needle)
Knit in stockinette stitch until hat measures 4-1/2 to 5″
Divide stitches evenly onto 3 #11 DPNs (14 sts each)
Needle 1: K12, K2tog
Repeat with remaining needles, remaining rounds: K2tog the last 2 stitches on every needle, until 12 sts remain
Thread tail through final 12 stitches, cinch together, then weave the tail into the interior of the hat
.