Knitty Gritty Pattern: Annie Modesitt’s Rasta Hat

Materials

	Man’s Rasta Hat
	PDF Hat schematic: click to enlarge.

Malabrigo worsted in the following colors/amounts: Azul Profundo (A), 2 balls; 601 Vetiver (B), 1 (1, 2) ball(s); Pollen (C) 1 (1, 2) ball(s)
24″ circular needles, 1 pair each US sizes 10 and 8
double-pointed needles (dpn), 1 set US size 8
darning needle

Sizes: S (M, L)

Finished measurements: 20 (21.5, 23) ” / 51.3 (55.1, 59) cm

Skill level: easy

Gauge: 3.25 sts x 4 rows = 1″ on larger needles, working with 2 strands held together

Ribbing

With B and smaller needles, cast on 64(68, 76); work in k2, p2 rib for 4 rows; join.
Switch to C and work in k2, p2 rib for 1 round; then work 1 round of ribbing with B.
Rep last 2 rounds 1 (1, 2) more time(s); continue with B only for 4 (4, 6) rounds, stranding C along wrong side of work. With C, work 2 (4, 4) rounds of ribbing. Work 2 rounds of ribbing with B.

Crown

With A and larger needles, inc 1 (inc 2, dec 1) sts evenly around all sts (65 [70, 75] sts).
Next round: With B k1 (2, 3) sts, [make one 2-1/2” dreadlock into next st, k3], rep around hat. Work in St st in A for 4 rounds, stranding B and C up along inside of hat by twisting with strand of A every other round.
Next round: [With C k3, then make one 3” dreadlock in next st], rep to end of round, end k1 (2, 3) sts. Work in St st in A for 4 rounds, stranding B and C up along inside of hat by twisting with strand of A every other round.
Next round: [With B make one 4” dreadlock, k1 with C, k1 with B, with C make one 4” dreadlock, k1 with B, k1 with C], rep to end of round, end k1 (2, 3) sts, alternating sts in B and C as established. Cut C, leaving a 6” tail.
Work in St st in A for 4 rounds, stranding B up along inside of hat by twisting with strand of A every other round.
Next round: [With B make one 4-1/2” dreadlock, k1 with A, k1 with B, with A make one 4-1/2” dreadlock, k1 with B, k1 with A], rep to end of round, end k1 (2, 3) sts, alternating sts in A and B as established.

Crown Shaping

Next round: With A, [k3, k2tog] 13 (14, 15) times around all sts: 52 (56, 60) sts rem.
Work 3 rounds in A with no decreasing.
Next round: [With A k1, then make one 5” dreadlock in next st], rep to end of round.
Next round: With A, [k2, k2tog] 13 (14, 15) times around all sts: 39 (42, 45) sts rem. Work 2 rounds in A with no decreasing.
Next round: [With A k1, then make one 5” dreadlock in next st], rep to end of round. End k1 (0, 1).
Next round: With A, [k1, k2tog] 13 (14, 15) times around all sts: 26 (28, 30) sts rem. Work 1 round in A with no decreasing.
Next round: [With A k1, then with A and C held together make one 3″ dreadlock], rep around all sts.
Next round: [With A, k2tog] 13 (14, 15) times around all sts: 13 (14, 15) sts rem. Work 1 round in A with no decreasing.
Next round: [With A k1, then with A and C held together make one 3″ dreadlock], rep around all sts, end k1 (0, 1). Cut B, leaving a 6″ tail.
Next round: [With A, k2tog] around all sts, end k1 (0,1): 7 (7, 8) sts rem.
Next round: With A, K all sts. Cut A, leaving a 9″ tail, draw tail through rem sts and pull tight.

Finishing

Block piece, weave in all ends, use B tail at start of work to sew first 2 rows of ribbing together.
With a strand of B, tie all A/B dreadlocks from the last round together to form a pigtail at the tip of the hat.