[pattern] Three Leaf Hat

This is a very simple hat that can be modified for slouchiness and size, and knit up in a weekend. I will try to explain the individual stitches, but I will make more emphasis on the logic behind them. Size mods and glossary are at the end.


Yarn: Rio De La Plata wool solid in Carnation

Weight: Aran / 10 ply (8 wpi)

Yardage: 140 yards (128 meters)

Unit weight: 100 grams (3.53 ounces)

Needle: US 8 / 5.0 mm

1. Cast on 80 stitches in the round on 4 DPNs, 20 sts each. (circular needles can also be used)
2. Knit an inch (10 rows) of 2x2 rib.
3. Start chart, 2 chart repeats per needle.

CHART (repeat 8 times):
1. k1, p9. 10 sts
2. fcP, p8. 10 sts
3. p1, fcK, p7. 10 sts
4. p1, k1, fcP, p6. 10 sts
5. p1, k1, p1, fcP, p5. 10 sts
6. p1, k1, p2, p4. 10 sts
begin leaf increases7. p1, yo, k1, yo, p3, fcK, p3. 12 sts.
8. p1, k3, p3, fcP, p2. 12 sts.
9. p1, k1, yo, k1, yo, k1, p3, k1, p1, fcP, p1. 14 sts.
10. p1, k5, p3, k1, p2, fcP. 14 sts.
11. p1, k2, yo, k1, yo, k2, (p3, k1) twice. 16 sts.
12. p1, k7, (p3, k1) twice. 16 sts.
13. p1, ssk, k3, k2tog, p3, k1, p3, yo, k1, yo. 16 sts.
14. p1, k5, p3, k1, p3, k3. 16 sts.
15. p1, ssk, k1, k2tog, p3, k1, p3, k1, yo, k1, yo, k1. 16 sts.
16. p1, k3, p3, k1, p3, k5. 16 sts.
17. p1, k3tog, p3, k1, p3, k2, yo, k1, yo, k2. 16 sts.
18. p5, k1, p3, k7. 16 sts.
19. p5, k1, p3, k3, yo, k1, yo, k3. 18 sts.
20. p5, k1, p3, k9. 18 sts.
21. p5, yo, k1, yo, p3, ssk, k5, k2tog. 18 sts.
22. p5, k3, p3, k7. 18 sts.
23. p5, k1, yo, k1, yo, k1, p3, ssk, k3, k2tog. 18 sts.
24. p5, k5, p3, k5. 18 sts.
25. p5, k2, yo, k1, yo, k2, p3, ssk, k1, k2tog. 18 sts.
26. p5, k7, p3, k3. 18 sts.
27. p5, k3, yo, k1, yo, k3, p3, k3tog. 18 sts.
28. p5, k9, p4. 18 sts.
29. p5, k4, yo, k1, yo, k4, p4. 20 sts.
30. p5, k11, p4. 20 sts.
start background decreases
31. p4, k3tog, k7, k2tog, p4. 17 sts.
32. p4, k8, ssk, p3. 16 sts.
33. p3, k3tog, k5, k2tog, p3. 13 sts.
34. p3, k6, ssk, p2. 12 sts.
35. p2, k3tog, k3, k2tog, p2. 9 sts.
36. p2, k4, ssk, p1. 8 sts.
37. p1, k3tog, k1, k2tog, p1. 5 sts.
38. p1, k2, ssk. 4 sts.
39. k3tog. 1 st.
40. p1. 1 st.

p2tog all around until you run out of sts and bind off. (8 sts > 4 sts > 2 sts > 1 st).


GLOSSARY:
Stitches are counted as they approach the tip of the needle.
-->

g			knit
/			purl
j			yo
S	D		fcP
S	G		fcK
\			ssk
|			k2tog (both from leaf)
d			k2tog (including backround purl)
3			k3tog

fcP: front cable purl. First st is held in front, while second st is purled behind it, then k first st.
fcK: front cable knit. First st is held in front, while second st is knit behind it, then k first st.
ssk: a one st decrease that leaves the first st on top of second st.
k2tog: a one st decrease that leaves the second st on top of first st.
k3tog: a two st decrease that leaves the second st on top, then the third in the middle, and the first on the bottom.
p2tog: purl 2 together.


MODS:
This pattern started off with a three leaf branch from a tree in the last pattern in A Treasury of Knitting Patterns, by Barbara G. Walker. The original pattern had all the leaves the same size (3 increases), which I modified to have 4 and 5 increases on other leaves to make it baggier. If you want a more fitted beanie, skip rows 19-22 in the left leaf, and 29-33 in the center leaf. The same logic can be used to make the hat even baggier.

For smaller sizes, a 10 st repeat can be substituted with the appropriate number of purls, distributed between repeats. Purls can also be added in between repeats to make a bigger hat.