Stay Out of the Forest

Stay Out of the Forest Knit Hat by Jennifer Lassonde

Project Overview

Stay Out of the Forest is an intermediate-level knit hat designed by Jennifer Lassonde, inspired by the popular podcast My Favorite Murder. This colorwork knit hat features text-based stranded colorwork that creates a bold statement piece perfect for fans of the show. The design is worked at a quick pace, making it an engaging project for knitters looking to expand their colorwork skills while creating a wearable tribute to the podcast's iconic catchphrase and community.

What Is Being Made

This pattern produces a fitted knit hat with integrated colorwork text. The hat is designed to display words and messaging through stranded colorwork techniques, creating a readable design that stands out when worn. The finished hat serves as both a functional accessory and a fan flag for My Favorite Murder enthusiasts, suitable for casual wear or display at live shows and fan gatherings.

Techniques and Stitches Used

The hat employs stranded colorwork as its primary technique, requiring knitters to work with multiple yarn colors in the same row to create the text-based pattern. This intermediate-level colorwork method involves carrying unused colors across the back of the work while actively knitting with the working color.

• Knit stitch (k) - The foundational stitch used throughout the hat
• Knit 2 together (k2tog) - Used for decreasing stitches, likely in crown shaping
• Stranded colorwork - The primary decorative technique that brings the design to life across the hat's body

The pattern requires careful attention to color contrast to ensure the text reads clearly when worn. Knitters are advised to select three colors with significant contrast differences to maximize legibility of the colorwork design.

Materials and Yarn Specifications

The pattern calls for DK weight yarn, specifically Goosey Fibers Squish DK, which is composed of 75% Merino and 25% Nylon. This blend provides both softness and durability. The yardage requirement is approximately 60 grams or 2.2 ounces, equating to roughly 148 yards or 135 meters for the small sample size.

The recommended yarn colors are:

• MC (Main Color) - Call Your Dad! in navy blue
• CC1 (Contrast Color 1) - Powers of Anxiety in gold
• CC2 (Contrast Color 2) - You're in a Cult in lighter blue

Knitters have complete freedom to substitute these specific Goosey Fibers colors with any DK weight yarn in similar color families, provided they maintain strong contrast between all three colors for optimal pattern visibility.

Needles and Tools

The pattern requires two needle sizes to achieve proper gauge and construction:

• US 4 (3.5 mm) - Likely used for ribbed cuffs or initial cast-on sections
• US 6 (4.0 mm) - Used for the main hat body and colorwork sections

Circular needles and/or double-pointed needles are needed, as indicated in the pattern materials list. Knitters should work to the gauge specified in the pattern using their chosen needle size to ensure proper fit.

Difficulty Level

Rated as intermediate, this pattern is suitable for knitters who have mastered basic knit and purl stitches and have some experience with colorwork techniques. The stranded colorwork method requires managing multiple yarn colors simultaneously, making it more challenging than basic stockinette knit hats but achievable for dedicated knitters ready to expand their skill set.