Lock & Key

I developed this pattern after searching the great Series of Tubes for a knitted dread tam for my boyfriend and finding only crochet versions. Things to know about me #37: I do not crochet. Thus this hat was born, and worn almost daily for the last year, to the point that I could hardly get a good enough look at it to write up the pattern. This explains why it might look a little beaten-up in the photos. It also points to the reason I have no modeled photos: said boyfriend cut off his dreadlocks recently, which is why I could finally take a good look at my handiwork.

For a prettier and more printer-friendly version, download the pattern. (MS Word, for now.)

Please e-mail me if you have any questions or issues with the pattern, or to report errors. If you plan to distribute or derive this pattern, please be sure to fully understand the Creative Commons license under which it is released (see below).


Lock & Key
Dreadlock Hat Pattern

Size
One size – fits 20-24”

Materials
Tahki Cotton Classic [100% mercerized cotton,
108 yds/50g hank]
[MC] 3609 Olive, 2 hanks
[CC1] 3002 Black, 1 hank
[CC2] 3003 Ecru, 1 hank

OR

Elann.com Sonata [100% mercerized cotton,
115 yds/50g ball]
[MC] 5310 Deep Olive, 2 balls
[CC1] 8990 Deep Black, 1 ball
[CC2] 8176 Natural, 1 ball

1 12-inch US6 circular needle
1 set US6 dpns or second circular needle

Stitch Marker
Tapestry Needle

Gauge
20 sts/30 rows = 4”


Directions
Cabled Rim
Cast on 96 sts in MC using cable cast-on. Join in round being careful not to twist.

Rnd 1: place marker, [k2, p1] to end.
Rnd 2: [k2, p1] to end.

Rnd 3: [k2, p1, C2B, p1] to end.
Rnd 4: [k2, p1] to end.
Rnd 5: [C2B, p1, k2, p1] to end.
Rnd 6: [k2, p1] to end.

Rnds 7 through 18: Repeat rnds 3-6 three more times
Rnds 19-21: Repeat rnds 3-5
Change to CC1 (I recommend not cutting MC, as you will continue with MC in two rows)
Rnd 22: k to end.
Rnd 23: p to end.



Increasing
Change to MC.
Rnd 1: k to end.
Rnd 2: kl6, m1 by knitting into right loop of last rnd stitch, [k12, inc1] 7 times, k6. (104 sts)
Rnds 3 and 4: k to end.
Rnd 5: [k13, inc1] 8 times. (112 sts)
Rnds 6 and 7: k to end.
Rnd 8: k7, inc1, [k14, inc1] 7 times, k7. (120 sts)
Rnds 9 and 10: k to end.
Rnd 11: [k15, inc1] 8 times. (128 sts)
Rnds 12 and 13: k to end.
Rnd 14: k8, inc1, [k16, in1] 7 times, k8. (136 sts)
Rnds 15 and 16: k to end.
Rnd 17: [k17, inc1] 8 times. (144 sts)
Rnds 18 and 19: k to end.
Rnd 20: k9, inc1, [k18, inc1] 7 times, k9. (152 sts)
Rnds 21 and 22: k to end.

Design
Change to CC1.
Next rnd: [k17, k2tog] 8 times. (144 sts)
k 3 rnds.
Change to MC, k one rnd.
Change to CC2, work following chart or written instructions once, 16 reps around.

Greek Key Pattern Charts
The following charts give identical results. Note that not all chart rows are the same width. (Click picture to enlarge.)


Greek Key Pattern Written Instructions

All sts are k.
W = CC1
B = CC2

Rnd 1: [9W] 16 times.
Rnd 2: [9W] 16 times.
Rnd 3: [k2togB, 1W, 6B] 16 times.
Rnd 4: [1B, 1W, 1B, 5W] 16 times.
Rnd 5: [1B, 1W, 1B, 1W, 3B, 1W] 16 times.
Rnd 6: [1B, 1W, 1B, 3W, 1B, 1W] 16 times.
Rnd 7: [1B, 1W, 3B, 1W, 1B, 1W] 16 times.
Rnd 8: [1B, 5W, 1B, 1W] 16 times.
Rnd 9: [7B, 1W] 16 times.
Rnd 10: [8W] 16 times.
Rnd 11: [6W, k2togW] 16 times.

112 sts remain.

Decreasing
Rnd 1: Change to MC, k to end.
Rnd 2: Change to CC1, k6, k2tog, [k12, k2tog] 7 times, k6. (104 sts)
Rnd 3: k to end.
Rnd 4: [k11, k2tog] 8 times. (96 sts)
Rnd 6: k5, k2tog, [k10, k2tog] 7 times, k5. (88 sts)
Rnd 7: Change to MC, k to end.
Rnd 8: [k9, k2tog] 8 times. (80 sts)
Rnd 9: k4, k2tog, [k8, k2tog] 7 times, k4. (72 sts)
Rnd 10: k to end.
Rnd 11: [k7, k2tog] 8 times. (64 sts)
Rnd 12: k3, k2tog, [k6, k2tog] 7 times, k3. (56 sts)
Rnd 13: [k5, k2tog] 8 times. (48 sts)
Rnd 14: k to end.
Rnd 15: k2, k2tog, [k4, k2tog] 7 times, k2. (40 sts)
Rnd 16: [k3, k2tog] 8 times. (32 sts)
Rnd 17: k1, k2tog, [k2, k2tog} 7 times, k1. (24 sts)
Rnd 18: k2tog to end. (12 sts)
Rnd 19: k2tog to end. (6 sts).

Finishing
Cut working yarn to 6”. Using tapestry needle, thread yarn end through remaining 6 sts. Draw together tightly, then thread yarn through top center of hat and secure on WS. Weave in ends.

Care
Cotton will stretch a lot, so to retain hat’s brim, machine wash and tumble dry regularly.

Modifications
To make your hat bigger, smaller, longer, etc., just make sure that you cast on a multiple of 6 sts (for the cables on the brim) and have a multiple of 9 sts when you begin the chart. Just remember, cotton is very forgiving so the original size will accommodate most heads!





Alexandra Kostalas and Hot Coals Only
http://hotcoalsonly.blogspot.com

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