St. Patrick's Day + FREE Hat Pattern

Winter has decided to stay around a bit longer this year here in Finland so instead of spring gardening we are shovelling snow. It would be wonderful to see some of nature's luscious green already but we have to wait patiently. As St Patrick's day is tomorrow, one could suspect that the cranky leprechauns got bored mending shoes for other fairies and decided to use their magical powers and delay spring just for fun of it. 

St. Patrick's Day is on March 17th and celebrates St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland, the arrival of Christianity in Ireland and the heritage and culture of the Irish in general. The week around St Patrick's Day usually involves Irish speakers using more Irish during Seachtain na Gaeilge, the Irish Language Week. Since 2010, famous landmarks have been lit up in green on Saint Patrick's Day as part of Tourism Ireland's "Global Greening Initiative". The Sydney Opera House and Sky Tower in Auckland were the first ones to turn green in honor of St. Patrick and Ireland. 

On Saint Patrick's Day, it is customary to wear shamrocks, green clothing or green accessories. It is said that the leprechauns cannot see green so if you don't cover yourself with green you're in risk of being pinched by a leprechaun. If you're lucky you might catch one and force him to tell where he has hidden his pot of gold. Or maybe you've caught a knitting trickster and he has a hidden a pot full of cashmere! 

After a long winter one craves to see some green outside (besides the evergreens) so if the winter is persisting knit something green to wear and avoid getting pinched! Here's a free hat pattern Apila, which means shamrock in Finnish. 

Happy St. Patrick's Day, kiss an Irishman if you can!

xxx,

Joanna 

Free Knitting Pattern - Apila Hat

PATTERN INFO

Sizes
One size, to fit head size 53-58 cm/ 21-23 inches.
Yarn
1 hank of Eco Cashmere (100% Cashmere of which 50% is recycled; 150 m/ 164 yds per 50 g). Sample shown is knit in colourway Levi. 
Needles
4.5 mm / US 7 double-pointed needles or needle or needle size to obtain gauge
Gauge 
17  sts x 28 rows = 10 x 10 cm / 4 x 4 inches in stockinette st after blocking
Notions
Darning needle
Tape measure

Abbreviations
CO cast on
k knit
p purl
pm place marker
psso pass slipped stitch over
rep repeat
rnd(s) round(s)
sl slip
ssk slip two stitches one at the time as if to knit, place
them back on left hand needle and knit together through
back loops
st(s) stitch(es)
tbl through back loop

INSTRUCTIONS

BRIM

CO 96 sts with smaller needles with long tail CO or with your preferred method. Join to work in the rnd being careful not to twist the sts and pm to indicate beginning of rnd. 

Rnd 1: *k5, p1, k1tbl, p1; rep from * to end of rnd
Rnd 2: *k2, p1, k2, p1, k1tbl, p1; rep from * to end of rnd

Repeat Rnds 1 and 2 until the body measures approximately 20 cm/ 8 inches from the CO edge or until the body is approximately 3 cm/ 1.25 inch less than desired length. 

CROWN

Rnd 1: *ssk, k1, k2tog, p1, k1tbl, p1; rep from * to the end of rnd; 72 sts
Rnd 2: *k1, p1, k1, p1, k1tbl, p1; rep from * to the end of rnd
Rnd 3: *k3, p1, k1tbl, p1; rep from * to end of rnd
Rnd 4: *k1, p1, k1, p1, k1tbl, p1; rep from * to end of rnd
Rnd 5: *sl1 knitwise, k2tog, psso, p1, k1tbl, p1; rep from * to the end of rnd; 48 sts
Rnd 6: *k1, p1, k1tbl, p1; rep from * to the end of rnd
Rnd 7: *ssk; rep from * to the end of rnd; 24 sts 
Rnd 8: k all sts
Rnd 9: *ssk; rep from * to the end of rnd; 12 sts 
Rnd 11: k all sts

BIND OFF

Break yarn and pull it through the remaining sts tightly. Weave in ends. Place the hat in lukewarm water and let it soak thoroughly. Gently squeeze out the excess water. Place on a towel and roll in to remove further moisture. Lay on flat surface and let dry completely.