I am a nerd, but not so much of a nerd that I like to shout it out to the whole world. You might call me a closet nerd. This hat is patterned to look like the paneled sides of the TARDIS – especially when knit in Police Box Blue. It speaks to other nerds, but leaves most others in ignorance. It is easy to knit – using only knit, purl, and directional decreases.

Size

Finished Hat Size 8” tall and 21” around to fit head size 22 ½” around

1.5” negative ease recommended.

Yarn

Knit Picks Swish Worsted (100% Merino Wool; 110 yards [101 meters]/50 grams): 25160 Dusk (MC), 2 balls; 24661 Cobblestone Heather (CC), 1 ball

Needles

Size US 6 (4 mm): 16” circular, DPNs

Notions

8 stitch markers (one of a different color), tapestry needle

Gauge

22 1/2 sts and 34 1/2 rows = 4” [10 cm] in St st after blocking.

Chart Key

Pattern Notes

This pattern is worked in the round from the bottom up.

Pattern

CO 120 sts in MC, join in the round being careful not to twist. PM for BOR (use the differently-colored marker).

Ribbing

Next Rnd: k3, p2 around. Work ribbing for 2”/5cm.

Main Hat

Change to CC and k 1 round plain.

Work pattern 8 times around as follows:

Rnds 1-4: K3, p12, pm.

Rnds 5-14: K3, p2, k8, p2

Work rounds 1-14 three times.

Decreases

Next rnd (move and eliminate markers): (Remove marker, k1, replace marker, k2, p12) around (you’ll move markers 1, 3, 5 and 7 one st toward the end of the round and remove markers 2, 4 and 6).

Work decreases 4 times around as follows:

Next Rnd: K1, ssk, p11, k3, p11, k2tog; repeat until end of rnd; 112 sts.

Next Rnd: K1, ssk, p10, k3, p10, k2tog; repeat until end of rnd; 104 sts.

Continue decreasing in patt (working one less purl st in each section) until 16 sts rem.

K2tog around; 8 sts.

Break yarn and thread tail through remaining sts twice.

Finishing

Weave in ends and block. Add a pom pom if you like.