This pattern is an update to the original All Squared Up published in January 2006.

What makes this entrelac hat unique? The entire upper hat is worked in entrelac – including the shaping! As it comes off the needles, it’s a cap, but block it over a plate and it’s a beret. It is also super stretchy to comfortably fit a range of head sizes.

Never tried entrelac? All Squared Up is based off of the same pattern I use to teach my beginning entrelac class, so it is definitely an easy intro. That said, it does have several techniques (provisional cast on, three-needle bind off) that make it appropriate for more skilled knitters.

Entrelac knitting resembles complicated woven basketry, but is actually an intermediate level technique. If you can knit stockinette and pick up stitches, you can do entrelac. This knitting style is even more impressive when worked in a variegated yarn with long color changes, because adjacent rows appear as contrasting colors, heightening the woven effect.

This pattern is designed without a cast-on or bound–off edge at the bottom, making it extremely stretchy and comfortable. The band is double thickness, to keep your ears warm in chilly weather.

Skills Needed to Successfully Complete This Pattern:
follow directions closely, provisional cast on (optional), work in the round on circular needle, knit, purl, ribbing, stockinette stitch, slip stitches, use markers, ssk and p2tog decreases, pick up sts knitwise and purlwise, 3-needle bind off.

MATERIALS
200 yds/183 m light dk/heavy sport weight yarn

Sample yarns:
Mrs. Crosby Carpet Bag (80% Merino, 20% Silk; 240 yards/100 grams) in Bahama Woodstar
madelinetosh Tosh DK (100% Merino;225 yard) in Heartbeat

16” circular needle, size US #6/4 mm
Spare circular needle, size US #6/4 mm or slightly smaller, any length
Stitch markers, tapestry needle