Ribbed Toque

This hat is quick and easy to knit, warm and comfortable to wear, and is my most requested knitted item. I've made a zillion (approximately) of these hats. Every year my husband distributes (loses) a few more of these hats at construction sites all over the province.

An infant-sized toque (under 6 months of age) can be made by working with one strand of yarn and 4.5 mm dpn's for 5 ins, then decreasing as below.

Materials: 120g worsted-weight yarn, 6.5mm dpn's (one 100g ball is not quite enough - a few rows of another colour makes a nice accent and makes up the yarn you need)

Gauge: 14 sts to 4ins in Stockinette Stitch with 2 strands of yarn held together.

Directions
With two strands of yarn held together, cast on 70 sts. Working in the round, work K3, P2 rib for 8 ins/32 rows. Work decreases as follows:
-*K2tog, K1, P2, K3, P2*. Work 2 rows, knitting the k sts and purling the p sts (63 sts)
-*k2, p2, k2tog, k1, p2* around. Work 2 rows as above (56 sts)
-*k2, p2tog, k2, p2* around. Work 2 rows as above (49 sts)
-*k2, p1, k2, p2tog* around. Work 2 rows as above. (42 sts)
-*k2tog, p1, k2, p1* around. Work 1 row as above (35 sts)
-*k1, p1, k2tog* around (28 sts)
-*k2tog, k2* around (21 sts)
-*k1, k2tog* around (14 sts)
-*k2tog* around (7 sts).
Break yarn and pull through remaining 7 sts. Weave in ends.

Some other hats made in variations on this pattern...using k2p2 rib, I think.

Cable-Brim Hat:

Materials: 1 ball Paton's Shetland Chunky

Gauge: 14 st and 20 rows = 4 inches on 6.0mm dpn's

I didn't write down the pattern for this hat at the time of making it and have since given away this hat, but the pattern goes something like this:

CO enough stitches for your favourite cable pattern, plus two stitches for one slipped stitch at the beginning of every row. Work cable pattern until the band goes around your head. Cast off and sew ends of band together. Pick up one stitch for every slipped stitch around the band on dpn's. Let's say it worked out to be a multiple of 6 stitches (60 or 66 or 54 or something). Work in the round until hat measures about five inches long.

Decrease: *K4, k2 tog* around. Work 1 row even.
*K3, k2 tog* around. Work 1 row even.
*K2, k2tog* around. Work 1 row even.
*K1, k2tog* around.
*K2tog* around. Break yarn, pull through remaining stitches and weave in all ends.

Black k3p3 rib Toque (in photo of 4 hats):

Materials: 2 balls (50 g/60 yd) Lion Brand Kool Wool (50% merino, 50% acrylic)

6.0 mm dpn's

Gauge: 13 st and 19 rows = 4 inches in stockinette stitch

Directions:

Cast on 66 stitches on dpn's. Work in k3p3 rib for 8.5 inches.

Decrease as follows:

Row 1 - (k3, p2tog, p1) around

Row 2 - work even (k the k's, and p the p's)

Row 3 - (k2tog, k1, pw) around

Row 4 - work even

Row 5 (k2, p2tog) around

Row 6 - work even

Row 7 - (k2tog, p1) around

Row 8 - Work even

Row 9 - k2tog across (11 sts remain).

Break yarn, thread through remaining stitches and pull tight. Weave end through any remaining hole.