Courage Hat

This hat compliments the Be Brave Wrap as it incorporates one of the stitches used in the wrap. You can make the set or just enjoy the hat.

Courage: Bravery and courage are words that we associate with heroes and battles, but I think they apply to you, me and the people around us, many are fighting battles we have no idea about. Sometimes showing up day by day is courageous. The ability to get up each day, with no idea how it will all work out in the end, takes courage. Hopefully, happiness finds our shoulders to sit on.

“Happiness is like a butterfly the more you chase it, the more it will elude you. But if you turn your attention to other things it will come and sit softly on your shoulder” – Thoreau

I call the stitch in this hat Butterfly stitch, and I hope that no matter where in life’s journey you find yourself you will be courageous and live life to the fullest. The words I try to teach my kids to live by are; “With courage, be kind and excellent.” Courage because often we don’t feel strong enough, kind because the world can always do with more love and kindness, and less hate. Excellent is measured only against yourself, never anyone else, do your personal best courageously

If you are new to working with more than one colour, then this Courage hat is an easy introduction, you only knit with one colour per round. The hat starts with a ribbing and then moves on to colour work which is made up of increases, decreases and slip stitches to form the butterfly pattern.

Material

Needles

3 mm / US 2.5 at least 100cm / 40” long circular needle or size to obtain gauge for magic loop

Yarn

Merino Single spun sock weight yarn 100g; 366m/400yds

Sample knitted in: Hartlam St Lucia Sock; 100% Fine Superwash Merino, Single Spun Sock 100g/ 366m/400yds

Colourways used in sample:

Colour 1: Kelp 40 – 60g for the hat and approximately 50g more if you want to make the big pompom, the one in the sample is made with an 85mm pompom maker (big pompoms can use a lot of yarn)

Colour 2: Mint 20 – 30g

Note making a longer brim or slouchy hat will use more yarn

Notions

Stitch marker

Tapestry needle for weaving in end

Button for the inside if you want to add a removable pompom

Pompom maker or cardboard for pompoms

Gauge

34 stitches and 40 rows over 10cm / 4” in pattern in the round, blocked

 Sizes

Child /Teen, (Adult Medium, Large)

 to fit: 47 - 50 cm (51 - 56 cm, 57 -61 cm) / 18.5 - 19.5” (20 - 22”, 22.5 - 24”)

Finished un-stretched dimensions:

Circumference

40cm (46 cm, 51cm) / 15.5” (18”, 20”)

Length from crown to rib:

23 cm / 9” or desired length