Caps for Good.Part 9

This is my last posting in the Caps for Good series. It's a variation on the pattern shown here.  The soft aqua eyelash reminds me of feathers on a a baby bird. The eyelash is knit into the cap except on top where I hand stitched it after the cap was done to get a nice concentration of whispy aqua. The spot of dark blue was also added after the knitting was done, using a method similar to darning. For a closer look, click the photos.

Pattern

Abbreviations, Gauge, Materials

K = knit

P = purl

K2tog = knit 2 stitches together

Gauge: 6 stitches/inch

Yarn A was used for the first tire and the decoration on the top. I used Patons South Pacific double knit acrylic, which has a bit of a sheen to it.

Yarn B was used for most of the cap. I used an acrylic yarn that looks and feels like cotton. It's no longer available, and that's why I'm not bothering to look up it's name, etc. That's my story and I'm stickin' with it!

Yarn C is an eyelash yarn. I used Lion Brand Fun Fur Stripes. The stripes on the skein are ivory, aqua, and lime so I cut the yarn to get to one of the aqua sections, since that's all I wanted to use for this project.

Size 8 needle for casting on
Size 4 double-pointed needles

Instructions

• Using Yarn A and a size 8 straight needle, cast on 66 stitches leaving a 6-inch tail. The large needle assures a nice stretchy edge.
• Move stitches to double-pointed size 4 needles. Working in-the-round, K 12 rounds.
• Switch to Yarn B. K 3 rounds.
• * Add Yarn C and K 1 round using Yarns B and C together.
• Using only Yarn B, K 2 rounds. P 5 rounds. K 2 rounds. *
• 
  Repeat the sections from * to * until you have a total of 1 "roll-up tire" made with Yarn A, 3 tires made with Yarn B, and 3 rounds with eyelash (Yarn C).
• Knit until the cap is 4 inches tall.
• Now the decreases begin. Each decrease round alternates with a round of solid knit.
• K2tog, K4. Repeat to end. 55 stitches. K next round.
• K2tog, K3. Repeat to end. 44 stitches. K next round.
• K2tog, K2. Repeat to end. 33 stitches. K next round.
• K2tog, K1. Repeat to end. 22 stitches. K next round.
• K2tog. Repeat to end. 11 stitches. K next round.
• K2tog 5 times. 6 stitches. K next round
• Cut yarn leaving a 7-inch tail. Thread tail into a needle and pull through the remaining stitches. Sew in loose ends.
• Use Yarn C (the eyelash) to add a fluffy finish to the top. Then use Yarn A to create a solid touch of color. I sewed 5-8 parallel stitches, and then stitched an equal number of stitches that wove through the first ones, but you can make up your own method, if you wish.