Fall Hat

Suggested yarn: 2 balls of Classic Shades in Tropics. I only used 1 ball and avoided breaking into the second ball by making a very very very short "brim". However, had I gone with a longer brim or hat, I would have needed 2 balls of yarn. This is why I suggest 2 balls of Classic Shades.

Suggested substitute yarns:

• 2 balls Plymouth Yarn's Encore Worsted or Encore Colorspun Worsted
• 1 ball Loops & Threads Impeccable Solids or 2 balls Impeccable Ombre

Hook: US H/5.00 mm

Terminology: This pattern is written in US crochet terms. If you want UK teminology, please comment! I am more than happy to convert the pattern for you.

• magic adjustable loop - wrap the yarn around two fingers twice, creating a loop. To crochet in the loop, you want to insert the hook from the side where the tail end of the loop hangs to the other side where your working yarn hangs. Pull through one loop and proceed with pattern's instructions.
• ch - chain
• dc - double crochet
• sl st - slip stitch
• fpdc - front post double crochet
• bpdc - back post double crochet
• bphdc - back post half double crochet (like a bpdc, except it's a half double crochet)

Start: Create magic adjustable loop. Ch 2. 10 dc in loop. Sl St in first dc made. Ch 2 never counts as a stitch.

R1: Ch 2. Fpdc around dc you sl st into AND ch 2 in "Start" round below. Dc in same dc. fpdc and dc in each dc around. Sl st in top of first fpdc made. 10 fpdc & 10 dc made. 20 sts total.

R2: Ch 2. Fpdc around first fpdc AND ch 2 made in previous round. Dc in same fpdc you just fpdc around. Bpdc next dc. *fpdc and dc in next fpdc; bpdc next dc* repeat from * to * around. Join with sl st in top of first fpdc made. 10 fpdc, 10 dc, & 10 bpdc made. 30 sts total.

R3: Ch 2. Fpdc around first fpdc AND ch 2 made in previous round. Dc in same fpdc you just fpdc around. Bpdc next 2 sts. *fpdc and dc next fpdc; bpdc next 2 sts* repeat from * to * around. Join with sl st in top of first fpdc made. 10 fpdc, 10 dc, & 20 bpdc made. 40 sts total.

R4: Ch 2. Fpdc around first fpdc AND ch 2 made in previous round. Dc in same fpdc you just fpdc around. Bpdc next 3 sts. *fpdc and dc in next fpdc; bpdc next 3 sts* repeat from * to * around. Join with sl st in top of first fpdc made. 10 fpdc, 10 dc, & 30 bpdc made. 50 sts total.

R5: Ch 2. Fpdc around first fpdc AND ch 2 made in previous round. Dc in same fpdc you just fpdc around. Bpdc next 4 sts. *fpdc and dc in next fpdc; bpdc next 4 sts* repeat from * to * around. Join with sl st in top of first fpdc made. 10 fpdc, 10 dc, & 40 bpdc made. 60 sts total.

R6: Ch 2. Fpdc around first fpdc AND ch 2 made in previous round. Dc in same fpdc you just fpdc around. Bpdc next 5 sts. *fpdc and dc in next fpdc; bpdc next 5 sts* repeat from * to * around. Join with sl st in top of first fpdc made. 10 fpdc, 10 dc, & 50 bpdc made. 70 sts total.

R7: Ch 2. Fpdc around first fpdc AND ch 2 made in previous round. Bpdc next 6 sts. *fpdc in fpdc; bpdc next 6 sts* repeat from * to * around. Join with sl st in top of first fpdc made. 10 fpdc & 60 bpdc made. 70 sts total.

R8: Ch 2. Fpdc around first fpdc AND ch 2 made in previous round. Bpdc around next 6 bpdc. *Fpdc next fpdc. Bpdc next 6 bpdc* repeat from * to * around. Join with sl st in top of first fpdc made. 70 sts total each round.

Repeat R8 until desired length -- I suggest periodically trying the hat on to decide if it's long enough and to placate your worries about the hat being too small. Keep in mind that back post double crochet curls inward (as in, towards the inside of your hat.) This results in the hat looking smaller than it actually is. But Don't Panic! The fabric is quite stretchy and will expand to contain your enormous cranium made huge by your awesome intellect.

I repeated R8 13 times (so, I crocheted 21 rounds before finishing.) My stitches tend to be short --- I always find myself making more rows in things like baby sweaters. Don't be surprised if you need less or more rounds.

To Finish: Ch 1. Bphdc around fpdc AND ch 2 in round below. Bphdc around each st. Sl st into first bphdc. 70 bphdc made. 70 sts total.

You're Done!