Viveca Slouch Hat

I like bartering. Like, really like it. I trade for anything someone will let me trade them for, from applique t-shirts to a photo session for my kids. I just love trading my craft for someone else's and I'm lucky to have talented friends who don't mind bartering with me.

As a stay-at-home mom I don't really get out much or worry a lot about the way I look. I haven't bought myself new clothing pretty much since my daughter was born four years ago, except to replace things that are falling apart here and there. And I basically just wait until my hair makes me look homeless before getting it cut again. Which is where I'm at right now, lol. Thankfully I have a friend who is a wonderful hair stylist and is willing to trade me a hair cut for some knitting. She wanted a very slouchy hat and liked the "Viveca Slouch Hat" pattern best ... so I was more than happy to oblige.

I did make some modifications though. She wanted her hat to be slouchier than the original pattern, so I added a few extra repeats to accommodate that. The other thing I changed is going from knitting flat and seaming at the end to knitting in the round. I hate seaming and didn’t really see why it was necessary here. I also really disliked the way this pattern was written but that’s a nit-picky thing I suppose. Anyway, here are the changes I made:

• Cast on 108 on size 7 dpn’s.


• 6 rows of k1, p1 rib.


• Switch to size 9 circular needle and do one increase row as follows: *k8, kfb* rep around.

Pattern:

• Row 1: k2 *yo, k8, yo, k1* rep around, k1


• Row 2: *p3, k8* rep around, p3


• Row 3: K3, *yo, k8, yo, k3* rep around


• Row 4: p4, k8, *p5, k8* rep around, p4


• Row 5: k4, *yo, k8, yo, k5* rep around, end last rep with k4 instead of 5


• Row 6: p5, k8, *p7, k8* rep around, p5


• Row 7: k5, *k4tog TBL, k4tog, k7* rep around, end last rep with k5 instead of 7


• Row 8: purl


• Work pattern until 5 repeats have been completed, then work Rows 1 – 4 of pattern once more before moving on to shaping the top.

Shape Top:

• Row 1: knit


• Row 2: p4, k8, *p5, k8* rep around, p4


• Row 3: k4, *k4tog TBL, k4tog, k5* rep around, end last rep with k4 instead of 5


• Row 4: purl


• Row 5: k2, *yo, k6, yo, k1* rep around, k1


• Row 6: *p3, k6* rep around, p3


• Row 7: knit


• Row 8: repeat row 6


• Row 9: knit


• Row 10: repeat row 6


• Row 11: k3, *k3tog TBL, k3tog, k3* rep around


• Row 12: purl


• Change to same size dpn’s.


• Row 13: k1, k2tog, k2, k2tog, *k3, k2tog* rep around, k1


• Row 14: p2, *k2, p2* rep around


• Row 15: k1, *k2tog, ssk* rep around, k1


• Row 16: p1, *p2tog, ssp* rep around, p1

Finishing:

• Break off yarn, leaving an 8” (or so) tail, thread through active stitches using a tapestry needle, pull tightly and secure on inside (wrong side) of hat.

DISCLAIMER! This is NOT my pattern. This pattern is "Viveca Slouch Hat" by the Berroco Design Team. The above modifications are just what I did when knitting it up -- again, this it NOT my original pattern.