Whit’s Knits: 70’s Ski Hat | Purl Soho

When I was a kid every guy I knew wore a hat like this. Triangular, striped and itchy. We’ve all softened a little in the last thirty years, so this updated version features an impossible-to-complain-about cashmere lining, which is easy once you learn how to do a provisional cast-on. 

Whit’s Knits: 70’s Ski Hat | Purl Soho

This Christmas I’m giving one to all of the men in my family. I can’t wait to look around at them wearing their 70’s Ski Hats, reminding me of how much I loved those times. -Whitney

Designed by Purl Soho designer, Whitney Van Nes.

Share your progress and connect with the community by tagging your pics with #PurlSoho, #PurlSohoBusyHands, and #PurlSoho70sSkiHat We can’t wait to see what you make!

Whit’s Knits: 70’s Ski Hat | Purl Soho

Materials

  • 4 skeins of Cascade 220. I used red #2427, orange #9463, yellow #7826 and green #8914. This is enough yarn to make many hats!
  • 1 skein of Jade Sapphire 2 ply cashmere (color The Blood Orange #30JB)
  • US 7 (4.5 mm), 16-inch circular needles
  • US 6 (4 mm) or smaller circular needles, any length
  • A set of US 7 double pointed needles
  • stitch markers
  • A few yards of a smooth waste yarn (nothing fuzzy)
  • crochet hook a couple of sizes too big for the waste yarn
Whit’s Knits: 70’s Ski Hat | Purl Soho

Gauge

20 stitches = 4 inches in stockinette stitch, with one strand of Cascade 220 and larger needles

22 stitches = 4 inches in stockinette stitch, with Jade Sapphire 2-Ply held double and larger needles

Size

20 inch circumference, to fit average man’s head

Pattern

Provisional Cast-On 

Start with the waste yarn, and crochet a chain 120 stitches long. Using 2 strands of 2 ply cashmere and the #7 needle, pick up 110 stitches. (Please refer to the Provisional Cast-on tutorial if you are unfamiliar with this cast-on.)

Place a marker on the right needle and join for working in the round, being careful not to twist stitches around needle.

Knit 23 rounds with the two strands of cashmere.

Change to main color (MC).

Round 1: *K9, K2tog, repeat from * to end of rnd. (100st)

Round 2: Purl

Knit 10 more rounds

K5 rounds with color A

K4 rounds with color B

K3 rounds with color C

Weave in all the ends.

Place the provisional cast-on onto the smaller circular needle (see the Provisional Cast-on Tutorial).

Whit’s Knits: 70’s Ski Hat | Purl Soho

Fold the cashmere hem up inside the hat so that the two circular needle are parallel to each other.

Whit’s Knits: 70’s Ski Hat | Purl Soho

Change to MC.

Next round: *K 1 stitch from the front needle and 1 stitch from the back needle together 9 times, K 1 stitch from the front needle and 2 stitches from the back needle together 1 time, repeat from * to end of round (100 stitches).

Whit’s Knits: 70’s Ski Hat | Purl Soho

With MC knit until hat measures 6-inches from hem edge.

Next round: K1, SSK, K45, K2tog, place marker, K1, SSK, K45, K2tog.

Next round: K1, SSK, K to 2 stitches before next marker, K2tog, slip marker, K1, SSK, K to 2 stitches before end-of-the-round marker, K2tog.

Repeat this last round until there are 20 stitches left, switching to double pointed needles when necessary.

Whit’s Knits: 70’s Ski Hat | Purl Soho
Slip stitches so that the first 10 stitches are on 1 needle and the second 10 stitches are on another needle.

Whit’s Knits: 70’s Ski Hat | Purl Soho

Cut an 18-inch tail.

Bring the needles inside the opening at the top of the hat (yes, this is a kind of weird manouever), and turn the hat inside out.

Hold the two needles parallel and knit a three needle bind off. (You do this by knitting one stitch from the front needle together with one stitch from the back needle 2 times. Then pass the first stitch over the second, just like a normal bind off…)

Whit’s Knits: 70’s Ski Hat | Purl Soho
Whit’s Knits: 70’s Ski Hat | Purl Soho

Finally, I do something that I admit is a little control freakish. I don’t like the idea of someone wearing this hat with the jogged stripe side in the front, so I tie a little piece of yarn on the hem that says “This is the back of the hat!”

All that’s left is to weave in the ends, block the hat, and make a few more!

Whit’s Knits: 70’s Ski Hat | Purl Soho