Ryan's Hat

I'm still plugging away, making Christmas presents for the family.  I am glad to say the end is in sight.  I wanted to post the hat I just finished for my nephew, who turned 15 a few days ago.  He loves all thing Scottish, so I went with that for the hat.  Really it was a basic hat, and was only delayed in that I didn't have enough wool and had to wait for more to be delivered.

Ryan's Hat

Materials:
5mm circular needles (33cm long I believe), a set of 4, 5mm DPN's
The wool I used is Jarol Heritage DK.  It is 55% wool, 25% acrylic and 20% nylon. I used a double strand so the tension would be right, and to make it that much warmer.  Speaking of tension, I didn't do one I just started knitting and it worked out ok.  I'll do a tension square and add it later on.

Directions:
On the 5mm circular needle cast on 92. Add a row marker.

1) K2, P2, repeat these 4 stitches until the end of the row.  Then work the 2x2 rib for as many rows as you like.  I didn't keep track, just stopped when it looked right to me,  about 1.5".

2) Knit until measures 17cm (5.5in).  Knitting in the round will produce a stockinette stitch.  If you wanted a garter stitch then K 1 row, and P the next.  I like the look of stockinette for a hat.

For decrease:
1) K1 K2tog, repeat until end.

2) Knit one row.

Repeat these two rows until there are only a few stitches left, say around 10 or 12.  At some point you are going to have to switch to a set of 5mm DPN's.  Just do it whenever is comfortable to you.

Cut wool leaving a tail, and thread through the stitches.  Draw tight, turn inside out and weave end it.  Viola!

Decoration:
For the Scotland badge I turned to my ever trusty Ebay.  I was able to get this Scotland badge for only a few pounds, and it seemed teenage boyish to me.  I sewed it onto the hat with clear thread.  I like the idea of a badge so much I think I might try others with different decals.