kris knits

This is the first pattern I’ve designed. I wanted to knit something that my dad and brother might actually wear without making the time commitment a sweater for tall men requires. They love wearing jeff caps (also called ivy cap, english driving cap) so I decided to try to make one. It’s named for them.

SIZE
One

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS
Circumference: 23 inches

MATERIALS
Mountain Colors Bearfoot [60% superwash wool, 25% mohair, 15% nylon; 350yd / 320m per 100g skein]; color: Evergreen; 1 skein
1 set US #6 / 4.0mm straight needles
1 set US #7 / 4.5mm circular needles
Tapestry needle
26 inches 1-inch wide elastic
Thread
1 sew-on snap
Plastic piece for brim, or similar (I used 3 layers of Pellon Peltex 70 Ultra Firm Stabilizer)

GAUGE
21 sts / 29 rows = 4″ in stockinette stitch

PATTERN NOTES
You will be working with 2 strands at once. Also, the circumference of the hat was several inches bigger than the 23″ I wanted it to be (which was the size of another jeff cap my dad has). I fixed this by using elastic for the band, and gathering the extra in while I sewed it on. If you want to make a smaller hat, I would recommend maybe making the pieces shorter so you won’t end up with all that extra space. If you want to make a bigger hat, just use a longer piece of elastic for the band.

PATTERN

Top/Back Piece:
Using the straight needles, CO 30 sts.
Work in St st, inc 1 st on each end of knit rows 10 times. - Should have 50 sts, be 3 inches long.
Continue St st for 4.5 inches until piece measures 7.5 inches total.
Continue St st, dec 1 st on each end of knit rows 12 times. - Should have 26 sts, be 11 inches long.
Continue St st for 3.5 inches until piece measures 14.5 inches total.
BO all sts.

Front/Sides Piece:
Using the straight needles, CO 15 sts.
Work in St st. Inc 2 on rows 5, 7, 9.
Continue St st until piece measures 23 inches.
While working in St st, dec 2 on knit side 4 times.
Work 4 more rows in St st.
BO all sts.

Weave in ends. Sew top/back and front/sides together, matching pieces according to diagram (below). Note: The front/sides piece will appear to not match up to the top sides piece. To make them fit, sew every 1 stitch on the front/sides piece to every 2-3 stitches on the top/back piece (but only for a little bit on the sides). This gives it kind of a rounded/gathered look that I liked.

Brim:
In center front of hat, pu 14 sts with the circular needle.
P 1 row.
Next row: K2, m1, pm, k10, pm, m1, k2. Pu 2 sts from hat edge.
Next row: P to end, pick up 2 sts from hat edge.
Next row: K to marker, m1, sm, k10, sm, m1, k to end, pu 2 sts from hat edge.
Next row: P to end, pu 2 sts from hat edge.
Repeat last two rows, except pu 3 sts on both sides, then 3, then 4, then 2. End with RS facing.
P 1 row.
Next row: BO2, slipping first st before binding off rather than purling it, p to end.
Next row: BO2, slipping first st before binding off rather than knitting it, k to 2 sts before marker, ssk, sm, k10, sm, k2tog, k to end.
Repeat last two rows, except BO 4 sts on both sides, then 3, then 3, then 2, then 2.
BO all sts.

FINISHING
Block if desired. Cut plastic to size of brim. Insert in brim and sew closed. Sew one side of snap to middle of top of brim, and sew the other side of snap to middle of front of hat. Sew elastic to inside edge of hat so that it has a 23″ circumference. Place hat on head.