New free pattern! Villains! Released today!

Hello, all! Hope this post finds you all well and happily knitting away. Here is the first of two hats in my series "Heroes and Villains!" Or as my friends have been calling these: "pandemic hats." Testing is over and I am ready to give this to you! You can use the pattern I've provided here on the blog, or if you'd like a pdf download (also free), please visit me on my Ravelry Shop page. 

This pattern -- and the second one in the series, "Heroes" -- will remain free. Instead of paying for the patterns, I would love to suggest a donation of any amount to a charity of your choice that is helping people in this great time of need. Here are a couple:

1. Feeding America has been supplying food banks for many years and has a Covid-19 program. Here is the link to the donations page.

2. Give Directly has been giving money to those in need around the world for many years. They also now have a special program for the US: cash to those who need it most. 

3. Local Hospitals around each of us might have some patients who are hospitalized with Covid-19 (this happened to a young woman at my church), survive and then have a large hospital bill to pay. Hospitals usually have programs to help people pay their bills; check your local hospitals for more. 

If you know of any other worthy charities, please feel free to share them in the comments below! Enjoy the pattern!

Standing in solidarity with those most affected by this virus! If you make one of these patterns, please tag me on Instagram @freckledgirlknits with pics! 

Heroes and Villains

Corona virus slouchy Hat

(The villain)

By Janelle Serio

This slightly oversized stranded colorwork hat was born out of an inexplicable desire to knit something with a corona virus on it. Whether this drive came from a longing to control my surroundings (which we all know are not within our control), show solidarity with those who are afflicted most by Covid-19 or just to “call the virus out,” as if that could accomplish something. I cannot say.  

 At first, I was thinking of creating a fundraiser out of this pattern and its sister pattern, “Heroes,” but it makes more sense to me to offer these patterns for free to all. Make a hat for yourself, a loved one or someone you know in the medical field who goes to work every day to help care for us all, and risk their lives in doing so.

After you make the hat, please feel free to donate what would be the price of a knitting pattern instead to an organization of your choice who is helping people most affected by the pandemic. For charity organization ideas, see the pattern page.

A word on sizing for this pattern

The size of this hat is determined using knitting gauge:

·         Toddler/Child: 6st/7rounds/inch, 2.5cm

·         S/M Teen/Adult: 5sts/6rounds/inch/2.5cm

·         M/L Adult: 4.5st/in/5rounds/inch/2.5cm

This can be accomplished by using an approximate corresponding yarn weight of:

·         Toddler/Child size: dk/sport weight

·         S/M Teen/Adult size: worsted weight

·         M/L Adult size: aran weight

To fit head circumference (range):

·     Toddler/Child: 17-18in/43-46cm

·         S/M Teen/Adult: 21-22in/53-56cm

·         M/L Adult: 22-23in/53-58cm

Any yarn/needle combination that gives the gauges listed above will work for its corresponding hat size. Check your gauge in a portion of the colorwork pattern after blocking. Please use a combination of yarn and needles that gives your desired gauge for accurate sizing.

Finished hat size after blocking

Circumference: 16in/41cm (20in/51cm, 21in/53cm)

Length: 8in/20cm (9.5in/54cm, 11in/28cm)

Fit: This hat is designed with extra length in all sizes to be soft and slouchy. It has a firmer ribbing at the start to help hold it on, but choose your size according not only to your recipient’s actual head size, but also how you’d like your hat to fit.

In the photo on the front page of this pattern, the sample I am wearing is an adult M/L and my head is 21.5inches in circumference, and my actual crown height (measured center-top of head to ear lobe) is 8.5inches.

The pattern

CO 98 stitches in CC using smaller circular needles.

Join in the round, taking care not to twist.

R1: *k1tbl, p1* repeat from *to* end of round.

Repeat R1 10 more times. (11 rounds completed)

R12: *k23, k1fb* repeat from *to* 3 more times. End of round, 4 stitches increased. (4 stitches increased, 102 stitches total, 12 rounds completed)

The body of the hat

Switching to larger circular needles and, using stranded knitting technique in MC and CC, knit color chart. (The chart repeats three times around the hat.) Do not break yarn once chart is completed. (47 rounds completed)

The crown

Using MC *k49, k2tog* repeat from *to* one more time. End of round. (100 stitches) Break MC.

Using CC, begin crown decreases:

R1:    *k8, k2tog* repeat *to* end of round

R2:     Knit

R3:    *k7, k2tog* repeat *to* end of round

R4:     Knit

R5:    *k6, k2tog* repeat *to* end of round

R6:    *k5, k2tog* repeat *to* end of round

R7:    *k4, k2tog* repeat *to* end of round

R8:    *k3, k2tog* repeat *to* end of round

R9:    *k2, k2tog* repeat *to* end of round

R10:  *k1, k2tog* repeat *to* end of round

R11:  *k2tog* repeat *to* end of round (58 rounds completed and 10 stitches remain)

Finishing

Cut a long enough yarn tail to run through all the remaining stitches using a darning needle. Cinch stitches tightly together, tie off inside hat. Weave in all ends.

For best results, we block finished hat to smooth out colorwork stitches.

Colorwork chart

Pattern repeats three times around the hat.