October 2016 marked the 350th anniversary of Isaac Newton’s invention of calculus (or Fluxions and Fluents, as he called it). Calculus, simply put, is a method used by mathematicians and engineers to make complicated equations easier to work with – i.e., turning curved graphs into straight lines – because eggheads are lazy too!
The Fluxions Hat is worked from the bottom up, beginning with a single-color hemmed and sewn cast-on. It’s worked in the round in a two-colored slip-stitch false jacquard pattern, which appears curved on the reverse, but shows as straight lines and diamonds on the front. The hat crown is decreased to the last few stitches, which are threaded through and pulled tight.
TUTORIALS FOR THIS PATTERN
Size
Hat: Finished Size 20 (22, 24)”.
Shown in size 22”.
Yarn
Nerd Girl Yarns Clever Worsted (100% Merino; 218 yards [199 meters]/100 grams): 3D Red (MC), 1 ball; Rumpelstiltskin (CC), 1 ball.
Needles
Size US 6 (4 mm): 24” circular
Notions
Tapestry needle
Gauge
20 sts and 28 rows = 4” [10 cm] in Stocking St after wet blocking.
Abbreviations
Please see our standard abbreviations.
Charts
Pattern Notes
This pattern is worked in the round from the bottom up.
Hat
With MC, CO 100 (110, 120) sts. Join to work in the round, being careful not to twist.
Work 8 rnds in Stocking St.
Purl 1 rnd, then work 12 rnds in Stocking St.
With CC, begin Chart 1, working 10 (11, 12) reps around.
With MC, work Chart 2.
Rep Charts 1 and 2 two more times.
Crown
Rnd 1: With CC, k all.
Rnd 2: K all, decreasing 4 (6, 0) sts evenly around by k2tog; 96 (104, 120) sts.
Rnd 3: K all.
Rnd 4: *K 10 (11, 13) sts, k2tog; rep from * to end; 88 (96, 112) sts.
Rnds 5 and 6: K all.
Rnd 7: *K 9 (10, 12) sts, k2tog; rep from * to end; 80 (88, 104) sts.
Rnds 8 and 9: K all.
Rep Rnds 4-9, reducing the number of sts knit between decreases by 1 each time, until 48 (56, 72) sts rem.
Next Rnd: K 4 (5, 7) sts, k2tog; rep from * to end. 40 (48, 64).
Next Rnd: K all.
Rep these two Rnds, reducing the number of sts knit between decreases by 1 each time, until 8 sts rem.
Cut yarn. Thread onto tapestry needle and pass through rem sts. Pull tight and fasten securely.
About the Designer: Rachel Anderson
I learned crochet from my grandmother, knitting from my father, and was thoroughly put off sewing by my mother because she was so good I couldn’t hope to match her skills. I can manage buttons, hems get Wundawebbed, cross-stitch doesn’t count (haha, a pun).
Thanks for the “calculus makes complex equations easier” comment! My family (including my mechanical engineer dad) thinks I’m crazy because I say that calculus made math, especially “word problems” easier for me. I always liked math, but I loved calculus!