Snowdrift Hat

Note: the stitches can get VERY tight because of the cabling every row, even if you don’t ordinarily knit  tightly, so you may want to go up a needle size or use thinner yarn to compensate.

For yarn, I used:

- Caron Simply Soft for the black

- Red Heart Super Saver for the white

- Noro Kibou for the variegated

- Red Heart Super Saver and misc. stash yarn for the 3-color gradient

I used size 6 needles for all examples, which was perfect for the Noro and Caron and WAY too tight for the RHSS

Stitch abbreviations:
FC: Insert right needle into front of 2nd stitch on left needle and knit. Leave on needle. Knit first stitch and pull both off left needle.

BC: Insert right needle into back of 2nd stitch on left needle & knit. Leave on needle. Knit first stitch and pull both off left needle.

Pattern:
CO multiple of 8 sts (I used 64 for a small hat and 80 for a larger one). Join work and PM.
Base row: K1, *P2, K2 to last 3 sts, P2, K1.
Continue rib for 6 rows or desired base height.

Pattern setup row: *K1, P1. FC, BC, P1, K1* around

Row 1: *K1, FC, K2, BC, K1* around
R2: *FC, K4, BC* around
R3: *K2, FC, BC, K2* around

Repeat rows 1-3 until desired height is reached, then repeat row 1 once more.

Begin crown shaping:
dec row: *k2tog, K4, ssk* around

(R1: K1, FC, BC, K1 around
R2: FC, K2, BC around)
repeat 3x, then repeat R1 once more

dec row: *k2tog, K2, ssk* around

R1: *FC, BC* around
repeat 2x

dec row: *k2tog, ssk* around

Break yarn and thread through remaining stitches. Draw tight and weave in ends.