End of May Hat

End of May Hat by Mandy Spoth

What Is Being Made

The End of May Hat is a color stranded knit hat designed by Mandy Spoth. This is an advanced-level knitting project featuring a two-color stranded colorwork pattern throughout the main body of the hat. The design offers two finished circumference options: Medium at 18.5 inches (47 cm) and Large at 20 inches (50 cm), making it a versatile project suitable for different head sizes.

Knitting Techniques Used

This hat employs stranded colorwork as its primary technique, which involves carrying two colors of yarn across the inside of the work while knitting with the active color. The pattern is worked in the round using circular needles and double pointed needles, which is a standard method for creating seamless, tubular garments like hats. The sample shown demonstrates how the two contrasting colors create a cohesive design when worked together using this traditional colorwork method.

Stitches and Stitch Abbreviations

The End of May Hat uses fundamental knitting stitches combined in a stranded pattern. Key stitches include:

• Knit (K) – the basic knit stitch forming the foundation of the fabric
• Purl (P) – used selectively within the pattern structure
• K2tog (knit two stitches together) – a decrease stitch for shaping
• SSK (slip, slip, knit) – a left-leaning decrease stitch created by slipping two stitches individually knitwise, then knitting them together through the back loop

Stitch markers are used to denote pattern repeats and help maintain accuracy throughout the rounds of colorwork.

Materials and Yarn Specifications

The End of May Hat is designed for light worsted weight yarn, making it suitable for a range of yarn options. The pattern calls for:

• Main body: 50 grams each of two contrasting colors (referred to as MC for main color and CC for contrasting color)
• Lining: 15 grams of soft, sport weight wool for a comfortable inner layer

The sample shown uses Berocco Ultra Alpaca yarn, which is a blend of 50% alpaca and 50% wool offering 215 yards (198 meters) per 3.5 ounce (100 gram) skein. The specific colors used in the sample are Berocco Ultra Alpaca color 6212 Cordoba Grape for the main color and color 6230 Mustard for the contrasting color. Alternative yarns mentioned as suitable options include Alpaca or Cascade 220 Wool, providing flexibility for yarn substitution.

Needles and Notions

The pattern requires:

• A 16-inch circular needle in the appropriate size for your chosen finished circumference (US 3 / 3.25 mm for the Medium size)
• A set of double pointed needles (DPNs) in the same size for working the crown decreases when the hat becomes too small for the circular needle
• Four stitch markers for tracking pattern repeats (though the pattern notes that markers placed between repeats are optional but helpful for maintaining accuracy)
• Both blunt and sharp darning needles for weaving in yarn ends and finishing the garment

Pattern Structure and Difficulty

Classified as an advanced knitting project, the End of May Hat requires solid understanding of stranded colorwork techniques, working in the round with circular needles and DPNs, and executing decreases for crown shaping. The pattern is available as a downloadable PDF, allowing crafters to work at their own pace while following detailed instructions and abbreviations provided within the design.