m a k i n g s : : seed stitch toque

"Gratitude can transform common days into thanksgivings, turn routine jobs into joy, 
and change ordinary opportunities into blessings." ~William Arthur Ward



how about a hat pattern for the making.  because a few of you liked it over on instagram, i thought i'd just share details of what i did right here and turn an ordinary opportunity into a blessing.  i am thankful for the ability to connect, share, inspire and be inspired via this space and others.  i'm going to make some of these, since they are so quick and easy, to send out to the east coast for the cold autumn upon us & winter ahead.  if you are interested in doing the same here are two options from friends of mine:  Jean started Nest a few years ago and has been delivering warm woolens to the family shelter and city clinic out in Maine or  Tara is collecting Knits for New York and those  affected by hurricane sandy.  Or if you want to make one for yourself or a gift, please do! i'm going to keep this one...it was my test, but now i'm ready to crank out a few more for the giving.
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I used Quince & Co's lofty Osprey yarn (less than one skein) in chanterelle on size 10 & 13 circular needles  (16 inch circulars in both & a set of size 13 DPN's).
Gauge in Rib on size 10's 11 stitches to 4 inches

Using the size 10 needles, Cast on 60 stitches. (place marker at beginning of round)
Work in a K1, P1 rib for about 2.5 inches.

quick side note:
(if you've ever knit stripes in the round you will see that rather than working a circle you are actually working a spiral.  rounds don't stack up they swirl up (hence the jog in the stripes) so when working seed stitch in the round you will  need to be mindful at each new round.  seed stitch is doing the opposite stitch of the round or row prior and it's easy to get into a groove of knit/purl/knit/purl/knit and just keep going, but with this hat, doing the seed stitch, whatever you end the round with you will also begin the next round with.  so if you end in a purl you will slip the marker and begin the next round with a purl and vice versa if you end with a knit you will begin with a knit. because working in the round spirals you won't have two knits next or two purls next to each they are up one and it works...if this confuses you, sorry, don't let it...just knit, purl, keep calm and carry on.)

okay...
Switching to the larger set of needles begin working the seed stitch.
purling the knits and knitting the purls.

Round one: [P1, K1] repeat to end of round.
Round two: [K1, P1] repeat to end of round.

Continue working round one and round two until seed stitch measures about 5 inches (or 7.5 from beginning of hat)

Decreasing:
*[SSK first two stitches, work seed stitch pattern for 16 stitches, K2tog, PM] repeat 2 more times to end of round.

Repeat this* (only slipping marker rather than placing marker and smaller number of stitches worked between decreases) until 6 stitches are left on the needles (dispersing evenly onto DPN's as needed).
Break yarn, weave through live stitches, pull tight and weave in ends.

(edited december 1 to add: after making a few of these i've come to a favorite decrease different than the original [above]. my very loose modification is this:  rather than dividing into three sections divide into four.  between each decrease row work in seed stitch pattern a solid row without decreasing until you reach around 12 stitches on the needles.)

sleepy, poorly lit, late night photos to give you a better understanding of what the toque looks like . . .





(sweater is my recent Kara . . . I don't want to take it off . . . details to come.)

If you make a seed stitch toque, please let me know! I'd love to see your end result.
If you find an error in my write up leave a comment and let myself & others know.

I do want to add...if you simply don't like it, don't knit it or rip it out and knit something else... no harm done!  This is a place of kindness.

Kind words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.