Steeler Mania!

Yea, the Steelers are going to the Super Bowl! I am so not a football fan, but I won't irritate anyone with my reasons. I'm glad that the Steelers won and actually hope they win the Super Bowl, but I am sooooo not a fan especially of Big Ben. But that being said, my SIL and my daughter are really big fans. I wanted to make them something for the game and I knit so...



I liked the hat and mitts so much I actually posted the on Ravelry as patterns. My first. I have made my own patterns before - I have been knitting too long not to have, but I have never published any of them. I thought I would try it.

The hat is a basic hat pattern.
Yarn: Brown Sheep Lamb's Pride Worsted
Needle: 9 circular 16"; 9 double points
Size: Adult - 22"
Gauge: 4 stitches to an inch

Cast on 94 stitches, join in the round being careful not to twist, place marker at the join and knit 2, purl 2 for 6 inches - This is really up to you. The brim can be as wide as you wish. I was knitting for a big guy so a 3 " brim seemed good.

When the brim measures 6 inches, change to straight knitting - knit every round for 2 rounds.

Change color and knit 1 round. Change back to main color and knit 1 rounds. Decide where you want the XLV and change to contrasting color. Using a stranded fair isle technique:

Row 1 - Knit 3 MC, 2 CC, 3MC, 5 CC, 2 MC, 2 CC, 2 MC, 2CC, Complete round with MC.

Row 2 - Knit 2 MC, 4 CC, 1 MC, 5 CC,3 MC, 4 CC, Complete round with MC.

Row 3 - Knit 1 MC, 2 CC, 2MC, 2 CC, 4 MC, 2CC, 4 MC, 1CC, Complete round with MC.

Row 4 - Knit 2 CC, 4 MC, 2 CC, 3 MC, 2 CC, 3 MC, 4 CC, Complete round with MC.

Row 5 - Knit 2 CC, 4 MC, 2 CC, 3 MC, 2 CC, 2 MX, 2 CC, 2 MC, 2 CC, Complete round with MC

Carry the yarn all the way around the hat as you work the rounds. Every 4 or 5 stitches twist the main color and the contrasting color to carry the yarn. Always knit with the main color once the letter stitches are done for the row. The contrasting yarn will only show on the right side of the hat in the letters but on the inside of the hat there will be floats all the way around. Make your floats loose so the hat doesn't pull in.

Complete the letters/chart and knit 1 round in main color. Then knit 1 round in contrasting color.

Knit until the hat measures 8 inches from the cast on edge - or until you think it is big enough.

Next round - *knit 10, k2tog*; repeat from * to * to end of round. 88 stitches remain

Round 2 and all of the even numbered rounds - knit

Round 3 - *knit 9, k2tog*; repeat from * to * to end of round.

Round 5 -*knit 8, k2tog*; repeat from * to * to end of round.

Round 7 -*knit 7, k2tog*; repeat from * to * to end of round.

Round 9 -*knit 6, k2tog*; repeat from * to * to end of round.

Round 11 -*knit 5, k2tog*; repeat from * to * to end of round.

Round 13 -*knit 4, k2tog*; repeat from * to * to end of round.

Round 15 -*knit 3, k2tog*; repeat from * to * to end of round.

Round 17 -*knit 2, k2tog*; repeat from * to * to end of round.

Round 19 -*knit 1, k2tog*; repeat from * to * to end of round.

Round 21 -*k2tog*; repeat from * to * to end of round. 8 stitches remain.

To finish the hat, cut your yarn leaving a 10" tail, using a yarn needle thread the yarn through the remaining 8 stitches. Pass the yarn through the hole in the top of the hat and draw the hole closed tightly. Weave the ends in.

If I would have been making the hat for my daughter, I would have added a pom pom but not for my SIL. Pom poms just don't seem like a guy thing.

I'm sorry for those of you who were hoping for a chart - I tried, I really did but couldn't get it to post to the blog.

If anyone has any questions or finds a problem with the pattern, please let me know.

The pattern for the mitts will be posted later today.

Go Steelers!