In Law Chaser Hat Knitting Pattern

I know you’re probably wondering where in the world the name for this hat knitting pattern from Jennifer Berg came from. You know when it looks like it’s going to rain or snow, but you end up only getting a few drops? This has been our life where I live lately — so many days of rain on the radar and very little actually falling.

The Navajo call that kind of weather “the in law chaser.” Maybe because it’s the kind of weather that keeps your in-laws from visiting? I don’t really know.

In any case, this sweet colorwork hat pattern is also inspired by the simple repeating patterns found on Navajo rugs. The original is worked in three colors of DK weight yarn, but you could just use two if you want to make it even simpler (or a multicolored yarn as the contrast to make it look more complex).

However many colors you choose, you can stitch it up in four different sizes, from child-sized to large adult, so everyone can have their own in law chaser, even if they don’t have in laws!

You can grab this pattern on Ravelry.

Just for fun I was looking around for more knit hat patterns on the site, and it looks like it’s been a while since I’ve done a good hat roundup. There’s a nice collection of easy, warm hat knitting patterns from way back in 2014 (!) and another knit hat collection from 2015. I have hats inspired by the hat Chloe Kim wore at the 2018 Olympics (which, let’s be honest, I didn’t even remember, but it is super cute).

And there’s a collection full of heart-themed hat knitting patterns, perfect for Valentine’s Day or any other time you want to spread a little love.

Looking for a particular kind of hat pattern? Let me know and I’ll see what I can find!

[Photo: Jennifer Berg]

There’s a lot to like about the Eloise Bandana from Katryn Seeburger. This cute little colorwork triangle can be worked as a bandana or kerchief size or a bigger shawlette.

It’s worked in two colors of fingering weight yarn so you can use whatever yarn you have in your stash and just make it as big as you can (since it is worked from the bottom up).

You can see the two sizes from the photo, and also two colorwork options: strawberries and lily of the valley.

But that’s not all the choices you have. In fact, there are 34 different charts you can choose from to knit onto your project. Some of the options include happy faces, a lobster, a pumpkin, a snail and a butterfly. There are cherries, peaches, tomatoes and radishes.

There’s even a blank square you can use to draw your own little design if you want to use something else. Or keep it blank and make it a plain checkerboard design.

And while both of these shawls use the same icons throughout, you could also use different designs throughout if you want. Say a fall version with a bat, pumpkin, leaf and acorn, or a summer beach theme with sailboat, fish, lobster and a bird? I keep suggesting four different icons because the larger size has four rows of squares, but the smaller has three, so you could do stripes of the same icon or alternate a couple of different ones, whatever you like.

Look through the finished projects on the Ravelry project page to see lots of different options, from rows to individual icons. There are also some projects that are smaller than the suggested size to make a smaller bandana. You could also keep going a make a bigger shawl working increases in the same way as you have been going.

Check out all the details and grab a copy of the pattern on Ravelry.

[Photo: Katryn Seeburger]

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