Knit a Lacy Hat for Fall

Last year the Washington Post did a story looking at data from Ravelry that revealed that knitters tend to start knitting hats in August and scarves in September. I’m not quite sure I’m ready for either yet, but if you’re the sort of person who wants to start wearing a hat as soon as the tiniest hint of cool is in the air, you might be ready for a hat like this one.

The Saji hat pattern from Yoko Johnston uses DK weight yarn and has lacy patterns to make it even lighter weight and allow more air flow for those days when you want to wear a hat for fashion but it’s still a little warm for having a solid knit hat or a thicker hat on.

It’s worked in the round from the top down and alternates between a lacy rib and an undulating lace pattern that looks kind of like spoons (saji means spoon in Japanese).

The pattern is designed to use a single skein of yarn (142-175 yards, or 130-160 meters) and because it’s worked from the top down you can just keep knitting the brim until you run out of yarn if you like the fold over look.

The hat comes in one size, about 19 inches/48 cm around and 9.5 inches/24 cm tall, but again you can make it longer if you want a slouchier look or to fold over the brim (or both!).

You can find this pattern on Ravelry.

What do you think about the idea of starting to knit hats in August and scarves in September? It’s way too warm most days for either where I live, and even after all these years I’m still terrible at planning ahead with my projects. Maybe you all are better at that than I am?

[Photo: Yoko Johnston]

If your family is the sort to do a turkey trot for Thanksgiving, or even just to take family pictures, you’ll want to get started knitting up some Turkey Sack Hats with this pattern from Underground Crafter.

The pattern uses super bulky yarn and is rated easy. It’s knit flat but there are a few skills in here around the shaping of the eyes, which includes changing colors, working bobbles and doing a wicked purl 3 together decrease. Twice.

But that’s all in one row, and the rest of it is pretty simple. The beak is worked separately and sewn on, and the side of the hat is stitched up to make it into a hat.

What’s great about this one is that it comes in 10 sizes, ranging from newborn to adult large, so you really can make one for everyone in the family. And because it uses super bulky yarn you can knit a bunch pretty quickly if that’s a thing you’d like to do.

It’s also fun because you could use this base pattern to make different animals or for different holidays. Make it all in orange and stitch on a jack o’lantern face for Halloween, or make a white one that’s a snowman, for example.

In any style this would also be a fun gag gift for that person in your life who has everything or doesn’t want gifts, or if you do a secret Santa or white elephant gift exchange at work or elsewhere.

And make sure whether you’re making it a turkey or some other character that you include the pom poms at the top! They’re just so cure and a great way to add a bit more color to the project, and they’re easy to make. (See also: ways to make a pompom with yarn.)

You can grab the free pattern at the Underground Crafter website.

[Photo: Underground Crafter]

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