The original Phrygian hat was of soft red wool, probably felted without being knitted first. This version is knitted and then felted. It can be dressed up in myriad ways; the variations are endless.
Please note: This pattern has not been fully test knit.
Yarn
Cascade 220 100% Peruvian Highland Wool
Color Red 9404
Needles
Size 5US
Gauge
It is not critical to be on gauge but to get roughly these results, my gauge was:
7 rows per inch; 20 stitches in 4” or 5 st per inch
Size: Small
Cast on 102 stitches over 2 needles – about 24” (61 cm) prior to felting
Join in a circle, being careful not to twist.
Row 1: K1, P1, repeat around the hat, place marker
Row 2: Repeat row one so the knits and purls line up
Row 3: Knit 34 st, place marker, repeat, so you have three markers
Knit until piece measures 1” from cast-on edge (three more rows).
Decrease Row: Knit to two stitches before the marker, K2Tog, repeat around (3 stitches decreased).
Knit 1”, then work a “Decrease Row.” 5 times (79 stitches, six inches from cast-on edge).
Section B:
Knit 3 rows, then work a decrease row. Repeat until you have 20 stitches.
Section C:
Work 2 rows
K2tog, repeat around until only 6 or so stitches are left
Break yarn, leaving a 4-6-inch tail
Thread yarn through the remaining loops, gather, weave in ends.
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Felting: Running the hat through one hot wash cycle will give it a light felting, great for warmth and protection from the wind. Additional felting will stiffen the fabric and enable you to shape the brim while it is wet, but will also make it smaller..
Colors for Historical Re-enactors: Blue for Colonial times, Red for Classical and French Revolutionary times, Yellow for Jewish males in several eras.
*Authors Note:
I will try to update this pattern with larger sizes in the future.