The Hella Gay Hat

You will need:

• US sizes 7 and 8 circular needles, 16″
• Set of US size 8 DPNs
• Stitch marker
• Yarn guide (optional, but super helpful for colorwork knitting)
• Yarn needle (for weaving in ends)
• Worsted weight yarn of your choice in 6 rainbow colors and black. The hat pictured was knitted with small amounts of various acrylic yarns from my stash.

Gauge and sizing:

• Gauge is 18 stitches in 4″,  or 4.5 stitches per inch
• S/M size will fit 19-21″ adult head
• L/XL size will fit 22-24″ adult head
• Where instructions differ between sizes in the pattern, the S/M size is listed first with L/XL following in quotations.

Abbreviations used:

• co: cast on
• k: knit
• k1p1: knit one stitch, purl one stitch
• k2p2: knit two stitches, purl two stitches
• k2tg: knit two stitches together
• mc: main color (background color)
• rnd(s): round(s)
• st(s): stitch(es)

Start here:

1. With mc and smaller circular needles, co 90 (96) sts using your preferred method; place stitch marker to mark beginning of rnd; join to k in the rnd making sure sts are not twisted.
2. k1p1 (k2p2) for 4 rnds.
3. Switch to larger circular needles, k 1 rnd.
4. Begin colorwork.

***charts are worked from right to left and bottom to top***

Flag version:
For all 19 rounds of the chart, repeat columns 1-2 sixteen (eighteen) times, then columns 3-28 once, and finally columns 1-2 sixteen (seventeen) more times. The chart is worked this way to ensure the beginning of each round falls at the back of the hat.

Hearts version:
For all 19 rounds of the chart, repeat columns 1-6 six times, then columns 7-30 once, and finally columns 1-6 five (six) more times. The chart is worked this way to ensure the beginning of each round falls at the back of the hat.

Decreasing: 
(switch to dpns when sts become too tight on circular needles)

1. With mc, k 1 rnd (or more if you want a longer hat)
2. k8 (k10), k2tg; repeat to end of rnd – 81 (88) sts remain
3. k to end of rnd
4. k7 (k9), k2tg; repeat to end of rnd – 72 (80) sts remain
5. k to end of rnd
6. k6 (k8), k2tg; repeat to end of rnd – 63 (72) sts remain
7. k to end of rnd
8. k5 (k7), k2tg; repeat to end of rnd – 54 (64) sts remain
9. k to end of rnd
10. k4 (k6), k2tg; repeat to end of rnd – 45 (56) sts remain
11. k to end of rnd
12. k3 (k5), k2tg; repeat to end of rnd – 36 (48) sts remain
13. k to end of rnd
14. k2 (k4), k2tg; repeat to end of rnd – 27 (40) sts remain
15. k to end of rnd
16. k1 (k3), k2tg; repeat to end of rnd – 18 (32) sts remain
17. k to end of rnd

S/M only:

• k2tg; repeat to end of rnd – 9 sts remain

L/XL only:

• k2, k2tg; repeat to end of rnd – 24 sts remain
• k to end of rnd
• k1, k2tg; repeat to end of rnd – 16 sts remain
• k to end of rnd
• k2tg; repeat to end of rnd – 8 sts remain

Finishing:
Cut yarn, use yarn needle to thread tail through remaining 9 (8) stitches and pull tightly to close. Weave in ends. Block and add pompom if desired.