Boston Toque

This hat was inspired by those out-of-the-way bits of cobbled streets that you see in downtown Boston, my hometown. The textured stitch pattern, coupled with a soft inner lining creates a hat that will keep you warm and toasty even during the depths of a New England winter. And the seamless construction means that when you're finished with the lining, you can throw on your new hat without even bothering with a blocking – just the thing for a sudden Nor'easter! Pattern includes charted and written stitch pattern instructions. Sample shown was worked in Bartlettyarns Fisherman 2-ply and Berroco Ultra Alpaca.

Skills needed: casting on, working in the round, knitting, purling, decreasing, picking up stitches for a lining. Gauge: outer shell, 18 sts/24 rows over 4 in/10 cm in pattern using large needles; inner lining, 21 sts/30 rows over 4 in/10 cm in stockinette using smaller needles.