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J's Watch Cap

Watch caps have always been my favourite form of wooly hats! (I'm not sure why I'm such a fan of all things nautical when I live in the most landlocked of cities... but still!). Inspiration for this hat comes from a Julia and a Joe. The chunky knitted rib and petrol blue colour is all Julia's (any Disney Pixar fans in the house?). Whereas, it's construction in 100% British Wool is a homage to fellow Brummie Joe Lycett. If you happen to tune in to his consumer rights show (it's funnier than it sounds) then you'll recall he's been on a quest to get people to use more of this abundant, lovely, highly sustainable material that's currently going to waste in the UK. This hat can be worn by anyone (the chunky rib has the added bonus of being super stretchy so will fit on a wide range of different heads!). Personally I like to fold the brim over, but again - that's up to you! I hope you enjoy knitting it!

Materials

To make one watch cap…

  • main colour (MC): 1 skein of Women's Institute Homegrown in Petrol. Any DK wool from your stash will work too. 
  • UK 4.5 mm double point needles (DPNs) and/or circular or needles.
  • tapestry needle to weave in ends.

Size

Finished Dimensions: Approximately 21cm wide x 27cm long un-stretched. The size will differ slightly depending on your gauge. The chunky rib means this watch cap is nice and stretchy to fit different sized heads!

Notes

The watch cap is knitted in the round from the bottom up with crown shaping and a folded hem.

Gauge 

26 stitches and 29 rows is approximately 10 cm by 10cm in  rib stitch pattern (using 4.5mm needles).

Pattern

Using 4.5 mm needles (or size required to obtain gauge) cast on 108 sts and join in the round, being careful not to twist the stitches.

Round 1: *K4, p2 repeat from * to the end of round.

Repeat round 1 until piece measures approximately 22cm from the cast-on edge. 

Crown Shaping

Round 1: *K2tog, k2, p2, k4, p2 repeat from * to the end of round.

Round 2: *K3, p2, k4, p2 repeat from * to the end of round.

Round 3: *K2tog, k1, p2, k4, p2, k4, p2 repeat from * to the end of round. 

Round 4: *K2, p2, k4, p2 repeat from * to the end of round. 

Round 5: *K2tog, p2, k4, p2 repeat from * to the end of round. 

Round 6: *K1, p2, k4, p2 repeat from * to the end of round. 

Round 7: *K2tog, p1, k4, p2 repeat from * to the end of round. 

Round 8: *K1, p1, k4, p2 repeat from * to the end of round. 

Round 9: *K2tog, k4, p2 repeat from * to the end of round. 

Round 10: *K5, p2 repeat from * to the end of round. 

Round 11: *K2 tog, k3, p2 repeat from * to the end of round. 

Round 12: *K4, p2 repeat from * to the end of round. 

Round 13: *K2tog, k2, p2 repeat from * to the end of round. 

Round 14: *K3, p2 repeat from * to the end of round. 

Round 15: *K2tog, k1, p2 repeat from * to the end of round. 

Round 16: *K2tog repeat from * to the end of round. 

Round 17: *K2tog repeat from * to the end of round.

Cut the strand of wool and pull it through the remaining stitches.

Weave in the remaining ends using the tapestry needle and block as desired.

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