Rivulet Tam

Rivulet Tam by Vickie Hartog

What Is Being Made

The Rivulet Tam is a knitted hat designed by Vickie Hartog, featuring a sophisticated wave pattern construction. This project creates a finished hat with a 22-inch circumference at the ribbing, suitable for a comfortable, close-fitting head covering. The tam combines textured ribbing with an intricate stitch pattern to produce a refined, finished garment.

Craft and Technique Overview

This is a knitting project worked in the round, beginning with a cast-on and progressing through multiple construction stages. The pattern uses the circular knitting method, which requires joining stitches in a round and maintaining continuity throughout the piece. The tam is constructed by first establishing a ribbed cuff section, then increasing stitches to accommodate the wave pattern body, and finally decreasing stitches to close the crown.

Stitches and Pattern Details

The Rivulet Tam employs several essential knitting techniques and abbreviations:

• SSK (Slip, Slip, Knit): A left-leaning decrease worked by slipping one stitch knitwise, knitting one stitch, then passing the slipped stitch over the knit stitch
• K2Tog (Knit Two Together): A right-leaning decrease that combines two stitches into one
• YO (Yarn Over): A yarn wrap around the right needle that creates decorative eyelet holes and increases stitch count
• M1 or MR (Make One): An increase technique that lifts the bar between stitches to add new stitches
• Purl (P) and Knit (K) stitches: Fundamental stitches forming the ribbed foundation

The construction begins with 102 cast-on stitches arranged in a repeating pattern of (P1, K3, P3, K3, P3, K3, P1) worked six times across rounds 1-12. An increase row then raises the stitch count to 120 stitches using M1 increases distributed throughout the pattern repeat. The body is completed by working rows 2-64 of the Wave Pattern as established, creating the distinctive textured design that gives the tam its name and visual interest.

Materials: Yarn and Needles

The Rivulet Tam is designed to be worked with DK weight yarn, specifically using 67 grams of Manos del Uruguay Silk Wool. This yarn blend provides both drape and structure suitable for the delicate wave pattern. The project requires two needle sizes: 4.5 mm needles for the ribbed cuff section and 5 mm needles for the larger wave pattern body, allowing the pattern to expand appropriately and create the intended finished dimensions.

Finishing and Difficulty Level

The pattern is rated as beginner in overall difficulty, making it accessible to newer knitters while still offering interesting stitch work. Finishing involves breaking the yarn and threading it through the remaining 24 stitches to close the crown. The completed tam is then wet blocked over a 12-13 inch dinner plate, which shapes and sets the fabric for a polished, professional appearance.