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
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
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!