Cactus Hat

In my recent browse through Pinterest I saw a super cute cactus hat, but it was crocheted.  I was determined that I could knit one.

I designed a simple ribbed hat with a crocheted flower on top.  Here is my pattern

CACTUS HAT

Yarn: Red Heart Spring Green, Coffee and Pretty N’ Pink
Needle: #8 (5.0 mm)
Hook: G (4.0 mm)
Gauge: (I forgot to measure it and the hats were donated)
Stitches used: knit (K), purl (p), knit 2 together (k2tog), purl 2 together (p2tog)

Cast on 96 stitches with green yarn, and join in the round

Knit a 2 x2 rib* until the hat measures 7 inches from the cast on edge.
*(K2, p2) repeat 24 times each round.

Decrease:
Round 1: (K2, P2, K2, P2tog) repeat to end of round – 84 stitches
Round 2: (K2, P2, K2, P1) repeat to end of round
Round 3: (K2, P2tog, K2, P1) repeat to end of round – 72 stitches
Round 4: (K2, P1, K2, P1) repeat to end of round
Round 5: (K2tog, P1) repeat to end of round – 48 stitches
Round 6: (K1, P1) repeat to end of round
Round 7: (K2tog) repeat to end of round – 24 stitches
Round 8: (K2tog) repeat to end of round – 12 stitches
Round 9: (k2tog) repeat to the end of round – 6 stitches
Cut yarn and pull through remaining stitches closing the hole at the top.
Weave in ends.

To create cactus spines cut brown yarn into 18-inch pieces. Using a yarn needle pull yarn through one of the knit stitches and tie with a square knot. Trim yarn and repeat staggering spines over the hat.

Crocheted flower:
I used the flower pattern from the crocheted cactus hat by Sarah at Repeat Crafter Me (here)  If you are new to crocheting the flower I used for my SWAPS a few years back with YouTube tutorial will also work (here).

I hope you enjoy this hat.

Happy knitting!