The Lightning Fast Hat JUST flew off my needles. On Monday: I spun and plied the yarn. On Tuesday: I set the twist and let it dry. On Wednesday: I caked it up and knit this hat. On Thursday: I shared my pattern with you!

The fiber was purchased in September 2019 at the Shannendoah Valley Fiber Festival from Mustache Millie.

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I made THIS hat with a chunky weight thick and thin handspun, but you can always use a similarly sized commercial spun yarn (something that works up on an 8mm/size 11 needle). Lion Brand’s Hue + Me meets gauge; the finish is very different.

Pattern: Lightning Fast Hat

Yarn: 79 yards of chunky weight yarn. (I used a thick and thin handspun).
Lion Brand Hue + Me will also work, and provide a smooth (non-textured) finish.
Also tested: 2 strands of worsted held double. Bernat Roving.
Needle: 8mm/Size 11 DPNs (set of 5). Or a 16″circular with DPNs for crown.
Other Notions: Cable needle, yarn needle, BOR marker

Dimensions: 19″ unstretched circumference, 8″ high. Note: this fits my 22″ head without issue.

Gauge: with the thick and thin yarn, my gauge varied between 2.75 and 3 stitches per inch; this gauge was measured on stockinette in the round. My Hue + Me swatch, the doubled worsted and Bernat Roving all measure 3 stitches per inch in stockinette on size 11 needles.

Abbreviations:
K: Knit
P: Purl
BOR: beginning of round
C5F: slip 2 stitches onto a cable needle, hold in front, knit the next 3 stitches. Knit the 2 stitches off the cable needle.
C5B: slip 3 stitches onto a cable needle, hold in back, knit the next 2 stitches. Knit the 3 stitches off the cable needle.
K2Tog: Knit 2 together.

Pattern:

Cast on 60 stitches. I used long-tail cast-on divided over 4 needles (15 stitches each needle). Designate BOR.

Ribbing: work *K2, P2* ribbing for 5 rounds.

Body:
Row 1: K10, P4, C5F, P2, C5B, P4, K to end of round.
Row 2-6: K10, P4, K5, P2, K5, P4, K to end of round.

You will work rows 1-6 a total of 4 times (24 rows total).
Work row 1 once more.

Crown Shaping:
Row 1: (K3, K2Tog)x2, P2, P2Tog, K3, K2Tog, P2, K3, K2Tog, P2, P2Tog, (K3, K2Tog)x6
Row 2: (K2, K2Tog)x2, P1, P2Tog, K2, K2Tog, P2, K2, K2Tog, P1, P2Tog, (K2, K2Tog)x6
Row 3: (K1, K2Tog)x2, P2Tog, K1, K2Tog, P2, K1, K2Tog, P2Tog, (K1, K2Tog)x6
Row 4: (K2Tog)x2, P1, K2Tog, P2Tog, K2Tog, P1, (K2Tog)x6
Row 5 and 6: K2Tog to the end of round.

Finishing:
Cut a 6-10 inch tail; with yarn needle pull the tail through the remaining stitches to close top of hat. Fasten.
Weave in ends.
If desired: Block. Add Pom-Pom. Whatever makes you happy.

Now: wait for a cold day to wear your boss new hat.

Don’t have a stash of bulky handspun? Make it with 2 strands of worsted held together or with your favorite bulky! I’ve tested Lion Brand Wool-Ease (worsted) held with Mainstays Basic and with Bernat’s Roving!

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