Everyone needs a go-to pattern that can be churned out quickly as a gift. Here is such a pattern. It is a great project for people wanted to get into colour work, as the stripes as a simple task in this respect. In fun colours it is perfect for those kids, tweens and young teens…. and in more refined colours and larger sizes, it can be a perfect project for those difficult to knit for Dads, uncles, boyfriends, husbands and granddads.

You will need (for most sizes… for the largest sizes, make sure you have extra yarn):
– 1 ball 50gm main colour DK yarn (100m)
– 1/3 ball for the stripe colour DK yarn (33m)
– 4mm circular knitting needles
– Darning needle
– Pom-pom

Size S Child
Size M Tween/teen
Size L Small adult
Size XL Regular adult
Size XXL Large adult

Instructions for the sizes are given as S (M, L, XL, XXL)

Using the main colour cast on 80 (90, 100, 110, 120) stitches and join in the round.
Rib knit 1, purl 1 repeating over 16 (18, 18, 20, 20) rows

Knit 4 (4, 5, 5, 6) rows in the main colour

Change to the contrast colour, and knit 1 row.
Change back to main colour, knit 1 row.
Change to contrast colour, and knit 2 rows.
Change to main colour, knit 1 row.
Change to contrast colour, knit 4 (4, 4, 6, 6) rows
Change to main colour, knit 1 row.
Change to contrast colour, and knit 2 rows.
Change to main colour, knit 1 row.
Change to the contrast colour, and knit 1 row.

You can now remove the contrast colour from your work. Cut leaving enough of a yarn tail to darn in later on.

Knit 15 (15, 17, 19, 21) rows

Begin the top decrease for the hat. This is the same for all sizes.

Then begins the decreasing of the top of the hat.
Knit 3, Knit 2 together – repeat over the whole row.
Knit 1 row.
Knit 2, Knit 2 together – repeat over the whole row.
Knit 1 row.
Knit 1 Knit 2 together – repeat over the whole row.
Knit 1 row.
Knit 2 together – repeat over the whole row.
Knit 1 row.
Knit 2 together – repeat over the whole row.

Cut yarn with 30 cm remaining. Thread onto the darning needle, slip all the remaining stitches onto this yarn and pull tight to close the top of the hat. Attach a pom pom to the top, and darn in your yarn tails.