Tracker Hat by Michelle Miller

Tracker Hat will be converted to a pay pattern at the end of July 2010

Learn how to knit your own Tracker Hat from this simple knitting pattern.

For a free pdf of the Tracker Hat click here or See Below.

Description
A simple cabled ear flap hat.

Skills Needed
Knitting in the round
Picking up stitches
i-cord
Cabling

Yarn
Rowan Biggy Print [100% Wool; 32 yards / 29 meters per 100g skein]; 2 skeins or 64 yards / 38 meters needed for hat.

Needles 16” US Size 9 / 5.5 mm circular for main body and ear flaps, US Size 11 / 8mm for front flap or needles to get gauge.

Gauge 3.2 st per inch or 16 st over 5 inches

Row Gauge 6 rows per inch

Fit Loose on a 21" head, Snug on a 23" head. The hat measures 7 inches from center of decreases to brim. The cable repeats are 4 inches long.

Notions
Stitch markers

Abbreviations
k = knit
p = purl
k2tog = knit 2 together
ssk = slip, slip, knit
psso = pass slipped stitch over

Pattern
Instructions surrounded by *asterisks* will be repeated five times on each row. Cast on 100 stitches placing a stitch marker every 20 stitches, and join in the round. Knit one row plain then start main body of hat.

Row 1 *Slip 3 stitches to cable needle, hold in back of work, k3 from left needle, k3 from cable needle, slip next 3 stitches to cable needle and hold in front of work, k3 from left needle, k3 from cable needle, purl 8 sts*
Row 2 *k12 stitches, purl 8 stitches*
Row 3 – Row 8 Repeat Row 2

Repeat these 8 rows three times total.

Row 9 Repeat Row 1.

Place stitch markers every 10 stitches and switch to DPNs for decreases.
Row 10 Knit one row plain
Row 11 *k7, yo, slip 1 k2tog psso* (90 st)
Row 12 *knit all st*
Row 13 *k6, yo slip 1 k2tog psso* (80 st)
Row 14 *knit all st*
Row 15 *k5, yo slip 1 k2tog psso* (70 st)
Row 16 *knit all st*
Row 17 *k4, yo slip 1 k2tog psso* (60 st)
Row 18 *knit all st*
Row 19 *k3, yo slip 1 k2tog psso* (50 st)
Row 20 *k2, yo, slip 1 k2tog psso* (40 st)
Row 21 *k1, yo, slip 1 k2tog psso* (30 st)
Row 22 *yo, slip 1 k2tog psso* (20 st)
Row 23 Take out markers, knit 20 sts
Row 24 *k2tog* (10 st)
Row 25 *k2tog* (5 st)

Cut yarn and thread through remaining 5 stitches and pull through. Weave in ends.

First Ear flap
With right side facing starting 6 stitches before cable, pick up 6 stitches to reach cable, pick up 12 stitches (one for each st in cable), pick up 6 stitches on other side of cable (24 sts). Purl bumps from picking up stitches should be on inside of hat.

Row 1 Purl stitches
Row 2 k1, ssk, k to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1 (22 sts)
Repeat Rows 1 and 2 Nine time total until 4 sts remain.
Work 3.5 inches of i-cord on remaining 4 stitches. Bind off, break wool.

Second Ear Flap
Count 16 stitches from end of first ear flap, pick up 24 stitches as first ear flap.
Repeat procedure for knitting first ear flap.

This is the back of the hat. Note cable is centered between ear flaps. Turn hat to front. There should be about 36 stitches (including 2 cables) between earflaps.

Front Flap
Change to needles 2 sizes larger than used to knit the rest of hat.
With right side facing starting at right earflap pick up 21 stitches, picking up last stitch so that you've reached the end of the second cable.
Row 1 Purl all st
Row 2 Purl all st
Row 3 p1, p2tog, p to last 3, p2tog, p1 (19 sts)
Row 4 Purl all st
Row 5 p1, p2tog, p to last 3, p2tog, p1 (17 sts)
Row 6 Purl all st
Row 7 Bind off.

Copyright 2008 Michelle Miller, all rights reserved. No part of pattern or other material may be distributed without written permission of Michelle Miller. Pattern is for personal use only and is not for commercial use or to create items for commercial sale.