I needed a slouchy hat. I had a skein of Fiberists Audubon Bulky. I wanted something more than Stockinette stitch but something less than cables or allover lace, so I isolated and adapted a motif from a Barbara Walker treasury, which I call the Lace Hunk.

Working lace in bulky yarn is a great way to practice your chart-reading and lace-knitting skills, so don’t be intimidated!

THE LACE HUNK HAT

by Ann Weaver

MATERIALS

Yarn

1 skein Fiberists Audubon Bulky (bulky weight; 100% Superwash Merino wool; 104 yd/114g per skein).

Optional: Additional Audubon Bulky and/or other yarns for pompom

Sample shown in SiO₂ (Smokey Quartz) with pompom made from remaining SiO₂, Audubon Bulky in Be₃Al₂(SiO₃)₆ (Emerald), and a bit of orange sock yarn.

Needles

US 11 (8.0mm) 16-inch circular needle and set of 4 double-pointed needles, or size needed to obtain gauge

US 10 (6.0mm) 16-inch circular needle, or needle two sizes smaller than size needed to obtain gauge

Notions

2 stitch markers

Tapestry needle for weaving in ends and securing pompom

Pompom maker or cardboard for making pompom

Gauge

12 sts and 16 rnds = 4 inches (10cm) in St st using larger circular needle

Abbreviations

CO          cast on

k              knit

k2tog     knit 2 sts together

p             purl

pm         place marker

psso       pass slipped st(s) over

rnd(s)    round(s)

sl             slip

ssk          slip, slip, knit

st(s)       stitch(es)

tbl          through back loop

yo           yarn over

LACE HUNK CHART

Download Lace Hunk Hat Chart

INSTRUCTIONS

Ribbing

Using a stretchy CO method and smaller circular needle, CO 52 sts. Join to work in the round, being careful not to twist sts. Place marker to indicate beginning of rnd.

(K1 tbl, p1) around until piece measures 2 inches from CO.

Body

Change to larger circular needle. Knit 2 rnds.

On next rnd, work Lace Hunk Chart across first 15 sts, pm, knit to end.

Continue as established, working the sts between the markers according to the Lace Hunk Chart, until all chart rows have been completed.

Knit until hat measures 8.5 inches from CO or 1 inch less than desired length. On last rnd, decrease 2 sts evenly spaced by working k2tog—50 sts.

Crown Decreases

Work decreases as follows:

Rnd 1: (K3, k2tog) around—40 sts.

Rnd 2: (K2, k2tog) around—30 sts.

Rnd 3: (K1, k2tog) around—20 sts.

Rnd 4: K2tog around—10 sts.

Cut yarn, leaving a 6-inch tail. Thread yarn through remaining sts, pull tight, and knot.

Weave in ends. Wet block to bring out the lace pattern.

Make pompom and attach to top if desired!