Pussy willows have been a favourite of mine since I was a child. I can remember my mom bringing them into the house in spring and being intrigued with the softness of each little bud. This stitch pattern reminds me of those little buds, especially if knit in alpaca.

Caprea is a very stretchy hat worked in ribbing with willow buds interspersed throughout. It is simple to knit using only increases and decreases to create each bud.

Skills Required:
Knitting in the round, twisted stitches, increases, decreases

Size:
Finished hat circumference of 19 (22) inches (48 (56) cm) slightly stretched
Finished height of 8.5 (11) inches (21.6 (25.4) cm)
To fit head sizes 19 to 24 inches (48 to 61 cm)

Yarn Requirements:
Any Sport weight yarn that gives you gauge. Approximately 200 yards (183m) for the S/M and 260 yards (238m) for the M/L

Samples knit with:
2 balls Quince and Co. Chickadee; 100% Wool; 181 yards (165.5m) in 50 grams or
2 balls Frog Tree Alpaca Sportweight 100% Alpaca; 130 yards (119m) in 50 grams

Needle Size:
Size US3 (3.25mm) 16” (40cm) circular needle
Size US5 (3.75mm) 16” (40cm) circular needle
Size US5 (3.75mm) double points for crown shaping
Or needle sizes needed to get gauge

Other Materials:
1 Stitch Marker

Gauge:
Gauge is measured after wet blocking the swatch.

26 sts in Ktbl, P2 ribbing on size US3 (3.25mm) needles is 4” (10cm)
32 rows in Ktbl, P2 ribbing on size US3 (3.25mm) needles is 4” (10cm)

One repeat of Willow Bud pattern (18 sts and 18 rows) on size US5 (3.75mm) needles is 3” (7.6cm) wide and 2 ½” (6.3cm) tall