Have some fun and hashtag you! Great project for beginners using 2 stitch variations. It is sized for youth with an option for an adult.
Loom: All-n-One Loom, set up for double knit
Yarn: Patons Shetland Chunky, 25% Wool and 75% Acrylic, 148 yds per skein
Colors used: #78209 Soft Teal (1 skein) and #78042 Charcoal (1/2 skein)
Stitches: Stockinette and Rib
Notions Needed: Knit Hook, crochet hook, measure tape, scissors, darning needle
Finished Size: Youth=20” and Adult=23-24” head circumference, aprox 9” high from brim to pompom
Gauge: 5 stitches and 10 rows= (2) inches in stockinette
Special Note: Using the full width of this loom makes a youth/small size hat. To knit a larger hat as in our sample, we have added a small back panel to increase the width. Using a larger loom ie the 28” loom will result in larger gauge and larger stitches which will change the shape slightly of the ‘hashtag’.
Instructions:
Hat Front with ‘hashtag’:
Cast On all pegs or 48 stitches in Rib Stitch using Teal Yarn. Lay anchor yarn of contrast color yarn.
Work (2) rows in Rib stitch.
Tie on color 2 Charcoal at 2nd peg. Do not cut the Teal yarn.
Work (1) row in Rib stitch with Charcoal yarn. Cut and knot.
Work (1) additional row in Rib with Teal yarn.
Change to stockinette and work (2) rows.
Hints: Mark the center of the loom with a stitch marker or pin. Next row will be row 1 of the bottom of ‘hashtag’. Whenever you are working the Charcoal for just the 2 stitches of each upright, weave the 2 consecutive pegs front to back and move over to 2nd upright and weave the 2 consecutive pegs front to back. Then, weave the Teal yarn in Stockinette weave skipping the upright pegs. When, you are working the long rows of charcoal, weave the stitches in stockinette, and then weave the Teal yarn in Stockinette weave skipping the charcoal stitches. Notice in your graph that the uprights will shift over by (1) stitch to give the design an angled look.
Go to center of loom, count back (4) stitches and tie on the Charcoal yarn. Work the (4) upright stitches. Note that there will be 3 pegs skipped in center of them. Lay the charcoal yarn down where you end. It doesn’t matter which direction you do the front to back for the 2 uprights. Weave the row with the Teal yarn and hook over. The ‘hashtag’ design consists of a total of (15) rows. Once complete, you can cut and knot the Charcoal yarn. Hat will be completed in Teal Yarn.
Work (7) additional rows in Stockinette.
Change to Rib stitch. Work total of (14) Rib rows to top of hat.
Work Decrease row on row #6 and row #10.
Decrease Row explained: decreasing some stitches at top part of the hat will add some shape to the head and keep the top of the hat from being too ‘bunchy’ or bulky. So, we will do a decrease to 2 stitches on each side of the design. That will take out a total of 4 stitches on each decrease row and make the top of hat fit much better. Before doing the weaving and hook- over, go to stitch #8 from left side. Lift the stitch and place it on peg #9. Go to stitch #12 from left side. Lift the stitch and place it on peg #13. Now you have 2 empty pegs. Go to right side of loom and count over to peg #8 and place this stitch on adjacent peg to left. Count over to peg #12 and place this stitch on adjacent peg to left. Do this to both sides of the board directly across from each other. You now have (4) empty pegs on each board. Carefully, lift the stitches and move towards the center of loom. You want the empties to be at ends of loom. Now, weave and hook over the row carefully lifting all loops on each peg so that only the one loop remains on the pegs. Continue working in Rib stitch.
Repeat this decrease process on row #10. Complete the hat with Rib stitch.
Removing the hat from loom: Since we are at the top of the hat, we want to create another anchor yarn to gather the top of hat. Do not bind off. Instead, cut and knot the working yarn. Cut another piece of the working yarn about 24” long and thread onto the darning needle. Pick up the stitches working from one board to the other and allow the stitches to come off the loom onto the yarn.
Small – youth size finishing: Sew the back seam using invisible stitch with matching yarn, Teal. Bind off the brim edge stitches. Gather the top of hat by pulling the yarn securely and tying a secure knot. Hat is ready for a fun pompom.
Large adult. In order to add more width to back of hat, we knit a matching piece that will be seamed into the side edges of the hat front.
Cast On 10 stitches in Rib stitch. (More if you want a larger than large hat) Our 10 sts will add 4” to the size of the hat. Work this small piece just as you did the hat front only no design is needed and no decreases are needed. Do work the matching stripe on row 3 to match the front of hat.
Once complete and free of the loom, seam to the hat front using invisible stitch on both sides connecting the 2 pieces into one round hat. If you use the invisible stitch for the seaming, the seams will not show. Just be sure to match the Charcoal stripe exactly. Now, gather each section with the anchor yarns at top of hat. Tie the yarn securely.
Now you can bind off in one continuous yarn at brim. Either size, you are ready for the pompom. We have used both yarns for the pompom in the sample, but you can choose to make it all one color, if desired. Wrap the yarns around a box or anything that will give you approximately 5” long strands. Wrap 20-30 wraps; tie in center very securely. Cut the loops and shake the pompom loose. Use the yarn tie of the pompom to secure to top of hat. To finish the hat, use the crochet hook to tuck in any yarn tails that remain from the seaming and knotting. Shape the pompom as short or as shaggy as desired. In our sample, we trimmed it up a bit, but left it fairly long.
For a complete look, make a matching Hashtag Scarf. Very cute!