Free Pattern: Arrow Rib Hat, from the top down

My first ever hat pattern is an adaptation of the "Little Arrow" stitch from page 62 of The Harmony Guide to Knitting Techniques and Stitches (Debra Mountford, editor, 1992). I knitted this for my "bunso" (youngest) sister, Marie, who asked for something in orange... she lives and works in San Francisco, California and has a handsome Irish-American bf who lives in upstate New York... so I guess she'll probably get to use the hat in both coasts.



Since the hats I've been knitting have been geared more for keeping heads warm and dry during rainy season in the Philippines, I had to look for a pattern that would keep my sis really warm, and I wanted something beyond the usual rib pattern.

I also had to find something that would go with my stitch count of 81 stitches, since that measurement more or less comfortably fit my own head and I assume my sis too...

Then I had to modify the "Little Arrow" stitch pattern since it was given for flat knitting, and I was knitting in the round with my 16-inch circulars.

I knit my hats from the top down. My increases are 9 stitches every other row. Basically the pattern produces a horizontal zigzag interrupted by single rib columns. Regarding my photos, please forgive the varying shades of orange... i took them on a cloudy afternoon by the door, and changed the camera settings midway the photo shoot :-)




Arrow Rib Hat

(NOTE: This pattern starts from the top down. It produces two rib columns at the join, between the last stitch of each row and the first stitch of the next row.)

Multiple of 8 plus 1
Yarn: worsted weight acrylic
Size: US 7 mm /4.5 mm


INCREASE portion
Using 4 dpns

Cast on 9 stitches, and divide evenly on 3 dpns, 3 stitches per needle.

Row 1: Knit (and all other odd rows)
Row 2: Knit into the front of back of each stitch (kfb), producing 6 stitches per needle, total of 18 stitches.
Row 3: Knit
Row 4: kfb every 2nd stitch, producing 9 stitches per needle, total 27 stitches.
Row 5: Knit
Row 6: kfb every 3nd stitch, producing 12 stitches per needle, total 36 stitches.
Row 7: Knit
Row 8: kfb every 4th stitch, producing total of 15 stitches per needle, total 45 stitches.
Row 9: Knit
Row 10: kfb every 5th stitch, producing 18 stitches per needle, total 54 stitches.
Row 11: Knit
Row 12: kfb every 6th stitch, producing 21 stitches per needle, total 63 stitches.
Row 13: Knit
Row 14: kfb every 7th stitch, producing 24 stitches per needle, total 72 stitches.
Row 15: Knit
Row 16: kfb every 8th stitch, producing 27 stitches per needle, total 81 stitches.


START OF "Arrow Rib" -- switch to circulars

Row 17: Knit 2, purl 2, knit 1, purl 2, *knit 3, purl 2, knit 1, purl 2* repeat until last 2 stitches, knit 2.

Row 18: Knit 3, purl 1, knit 1, purl 1, *knit 5, purl 1, knit 1, purl 1* repeat until last 3 stitches, knit 3.
Row 19: Knit 1, *purl 1, knit 5, purl 1, knit 1* repeat til end
Row 20: Knit 1, *purl 2, knit 3, purl 2, knit 1* repeat til end

Repeat Rows 17-20. If you wish to end the hat with a 1x1 rib, like I did, stop knitting the Arrow Rib pattern when you get 5-6 inches, depending on your desired hat length. Bind off loosely.



I've got another hat pattern to upload, the "Simply Dotted" hat. Need to sked another photo shoot for that :-) stay tuned!