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Pattern - Hemp Hat Knitting

Hemp is a lovely natural fiber with excellent durability, stitch definition & drape, similar to linen. Hemp yarn makes for comfortable hats in any style, and comes in a wide variety of colors. The first hemp yarns on the market were rather bulky and "twiny", but there is now soft, very finely spun hand painted yarn available from a variety of independent vendors, including Lanaknits and Aurora Silk. There are also numerous hemp blends, including hemp/wool, hemp/cotton, and so on.

When looking at hemp hat knitting patterns, you will find many related to the basic stocking cap, as well as other flexible hats like the Rasta-style tam and the "head-hugger" or "skull cap".

Here's a cabled skull cap pattern from Sean Riley of MenKnit Magazine:

Materials:
120 yards of any yarn with a gauge of 3.5 sts per inch will do.

Tools:
16" US 9 (5.5mm) circular needle
set of 4 (or 5) US 9 (5.5mm) double pointed needles
cable needle
Stitch marker
tapestry needle

Special Abbreviations:
C4L: Slip next 4 sts to cable needle and hold in front of the work; P1; K4 from cable needle
C4R: Slip next st to cable needle and hold in back of the work; K4; P1 from cable needle
C8B: Slip next 4 sts to cable needle and hold in back of the work; K4; K4 from cable needle.

Pattern:
Using an "elastic" or stretchy cast-on method like the double long-tail cast on or greek cast-on, and the 16" circular needle, cast on 72 stitches. Join, being careful not to twist. Place a marker to indicate the beginning (or end) of the round.

Rounds 1-10: K4, P4 around

Round 11: *C4L; P2; C4R; P4; K4; P3*; repeat between *&* 2 times more

Round 12: Knit stitches as they appear (be careful to purl the purls that were held on the cable needle. They may not be as obvious as a knit stitch).

Round 13: *P2; C4L; C4R; P4; K4; P4*; repeat between *&* 2 times more ending with a P3 for the last 3 sts in the round.

Round 14: Repeat round 12

Round 15: C8B; P5; K4; P5* repeat; C8B; P5; K4; P3

Round 16: Repeat round 12

Round 17: P2; C4R; C4L; P5; K4; P5; C4R; C4L; P5; K4; P5; C4R; C4L; P5; K4; P3

Round 18: repeat round 12

Round 19: P1; *C4R; P2; C4L; P4; K4; P4* repeat between *&* 2 times more ending with a P3.

Round 20: Knit stitches as they appear (knit the knit stitches, purl the purl stitches).

Round 21: P1; *K4; P1; P2tog; P1;* repeat from *to* around

Round 22, 23: Knit stitches as they appear (knit the knit stitches, purl the purl stitches)

Round 24: P1; *K1; K2tog; K1; P3*

Round 25: 26: Knit stitches as they appear (knit the knit stitches, purl the purl stitches)

Round 27: K2tog; K2; P2; *K2tog; K2; P2* repeat from *and* 7 times more; P2

Round 28: 29; Knit stitches as they appear (knit the knit stitches, purl the purl stitches)

Round 30: *K2tog; K1; P2* repeat from *to* around

Round 31: Knit stitches as they appear (knit the knit stitches, purl the purl stitches)

Round 32: *K2tog; P2* repeat from *to* around

Round 33: K1, P1, *K2tog, P1* repeat from *to* around ending with P2

Round 34: *K1 K2tog* repeat from *to* around, ending with a P1

Round 35: K2tog around

Round 36: Cut yarn, draw through remaining stitches.

Weave in ends and enjoy!I