Otava Sprite Hat Pattern

Can you believe it? My first go at creating a pattern. I've been seeing toques in this style both online and in The Real World and thought I'd try to create my own version.

I used my all-time favourite yarn (Rowan Pure Wook DK) in Kiss and Enamel (commonly known as red and cream). I used my all-time favourite hook (Knitter's Pride soft grip). And I started stitching, typing, frogging, repeating.

Eventually, the result was this:

(By the way, if you would like to avoid a gently sprialing join snaking its way around your Sprite Hat, make sure you do not place the first stitch of each round in the same stitch that the Ch 2 rises from. Start with the next stitch instead. That way, you'll get a seam that runs in a straight line down the back of your hat and is much harder to detect.)

And here's the super cool thing: you can easily modify this pattern to fit any size head. The pattern is written for an adult (i.e. my) head. All you have to do is stop the increasing stripes (anywhere up to row 33) once the hat is large enough around to fit the intended recipient. Then skip down to the non-increasing rows and continue from there. Obviously the stitch counts will be out then, but if you copy this pattern into a word processing program, you can easily change or delete them.  You might need to change the colours to keep your stripes alternating. (Watch for an upcoming post with a modified pattern for a baby's Sprite. I'm doing this one in purples and it's darling!)

To finish if off, a wee pompom would be cute. For younger ones (who might pull out the strings and munch on them), I prefer to crochet a tiny ball or two, stuff them, and attach them instead. The best tutorial I've found for these is at Attic 24's blog. Her tutorial is so straightforward and easy to follow that there's no sense in reinventing the wheel (or the tutorial, for that matter).

So here it is! If you try this pattern out, please let me know how it works for you. I'd love to hear any comments or criticisms...it is my first, and I'm learning and willing to learn!

Otava Sprite Hat Pattern

This pattern was developed using a 4mm (G/6) hook and 2 colours of Rowan pure wool dk 50g/125m for an adult. I used less than 1 ball of each colour for this hat.

Special stitch instructions:
A long sc happens when you insert your hook into the space below the one you would normally use when beginning a stitch. Here's a good YouTube tutorial.

With colour 1:

Rnd 1: Chain 2. 6 sc in second loop from hook. Join to first sc with a slip stitch.

Rnd 2: Ch 2. (This does not count as an hdc.) 1 hdc in each sc around. Join to first hdc. Always join at the end of each round. (6 hdc)
Rnd 3: Ch 2. 1 hdc, 2 hdc in each hdc around. (9 hdc)

At this point, you can either continue with colour 1 (for a solid hat) or switch to colour 2 (for a striped hat). Because my stripes are narrow, I’m not cutting my yarn. I’m just pulling in a loop of colour 2. Later I’ll drop that yarn and pick up the hanging colour 1 yarn. Make sure that as you continue to crochet with your new colour, you leave the old colour hanging to the back (or inside) of your work. If you prefer another method of switching colours, that should work fine too.

Rnd 4: (with colour 2) Ch 2. 1 hdc in each hdc around. (9hdc)
Rnd 5: Ch 2. I hdc in each hdc around. (9 hdc)
Rnd 6: Ch 2. 1 hdc, 2 hdc in each hdc around. (You will end with 1 hdc.) (13 hdc)

Rnd 7: (pick up colour 1) Ch 2. 1 hdc in each hdc around. (13 hdc)

Rnd 8: repeat rnd 7.
Rnd 9: Ch 2. 1 hdc, 2 hdc in each hdc around. (You will end with 1 hdc.) (19 hdc)

Rnd 10: (pick up colour 2) Ch 2. 1 hdc in each hdc around. (19 hdc)

Rnd 11: repeat rnd 10.
Rnd 12: Ch 2. 1 hdc, 2 hdc in each hdc around. (You will end with 1 hdc.) (28 hdc)

Rnd 13: (pick up colour 1) Ch 2. 1 hdc in each hdc around. (28 hdc)

Rnd 14: repeat rnd 13.
Rnd 15: Ch 2. 1 hdc, 2 hdc in each hdc around. (You will end with 2 hdc.) (42 hdc)

Rnd 16: (pick up colour 2) Ch 2. 1 hdc in each hdc around. (42 hdc)

Rnd 17: Ch 2. 1 hdc in each hdc around. (42 hdc)
Rnd 18: repeat rnd 17.

Rnd 19: (pick up colour 1) Ch 2. 1 hdc in each hdc around. (42 hdc)
Rnd 20: repeat rnd 19.
Rnd 21: Ch 2. 1 hdc, 1 hdc, 2 hdc in each hdc around. (56 hdc)
 
Rnd 22: (pick up colour 2) Ch 2. 1 hdc in each hdc around. (56 hdc)
Rnd 23: repeat rnd 22.
Rnd 24: Ch 2. 1 hdc, 1 hdc, 1 hdc, 2 hdc in each hdc around. (70 hdc)

Rnd 25: (pick up colour 1) Ch 2. 1 hdc in each hdc around. (70 hdc)

Rnd 26: repeat rnd 25.
Rnd 27: Ch 2. 1 hdc, 1 hdc, 1 hdc, 1 hdc, 2 hdc in each hdc around. (84 hdc)

Rnd 28: (pick up colour 2) Ch 2. 1 hdc in each hdc around. (84 hdc)

Rnd 29: repeat rnd 28.
Rnd 30: Ch 2. 1 hdc, 1 hdc, 1 hdc, 1 hdc, 1hdc, 2 hdc in each hdc around. (98 hdc)

Rnd 31: (pick up colour 1) Ch 2. 1 hdc in each hdc around. (98 hdc)

Rnd 32: repeat rnd 31.
Rnd 33: Ch 2. 1 hdc, 1 hdc, 1 hdc, 1 hdc, 1 hdc, 1 hdc, 2 hdc in each hdc around. (112 hdc)

Rnd 34: (pick up colour 2) Ch 2. 1 hdc in each hdc around. (112 hdc)

Rnds 35-45: repeat rnd 34. Continue to change colours every 3 rounds.

Rnd 46: (you should be on colour 2) Ch 1. 1 sc in each hdc (112 sc)
Rnd 47: repeat rnd 46.

Rnd 48: (pick up colour 1) Ch 1. 1 sc in each sc. Alternate 1 regular sc and 1 long sc around.
Rnd 49: Ch 1. 1 sc in each sc.

Weave in and trim all loose ends. Ta da!!

 

This pattern is for personal use only. Please do not sell the pattern or anything you make with this pattern. Thank you.