"How To" Tuesday

How to make a sock monkey hat.

Here's what I did, anyway!

Materials:

• Paton's wool yarn
• A set of size 7 DPNs
• Stitch marker
• Yarn needle
• Coffee
• A good show to watch

Let's get started!

• Cast on 54 stitches using the long tail method.
• Divide stitches between three needles, 18 per needle.
• Join, making sure not to twist your stitches. After first stitch is knitted and cast on stitches are joined, place your marker to indicate beginning of round. (You'll really only need this for marking where to begin decreasing.)
• Knit around until the piece measures approximately 2 1/2-3 inches.

Now we decrease!

• K7, K2TOG around. (48 stitches)
• K6, K2TOG around. (42 stitches)
• K5, K2TOG around. (36 stitches)
• K4, K2TOG around. (30 stitches)
• K3, K2TOG around. (24 stitches)
• K2, K2TOG around. (18 stitches)
• K1, K2TOG around. (12 stitches)
• K2TOG around. There will be 6 stitches remaining.

Cut yarn leaving a 6 inch tail. Thread end through a yarn needle and pull through remaining 6 stitches TWICE. Pull tight, thread through center of closure. Tie off inside and weave in all ends. Top with a pom pom or simply leave plain. Either way, your monkey will be happy to have a warm hat!

This hat fits my larger traditional red heel and gray sock monkeys. Later I'll explain the formula for making any size hat with any type of yarn using any size needles... check back for that soon!