Inspired by Stephen West’s fabulous knit Diamondback Mitts, Kristen developed this intriguing stitch pattern for crochet! This hat is great fun to crochet, even more fun to wear, and is perfect for both men and women!

The diamonds are integrated into each round and crocheted at the same time as the stripes, with a fun and easy trick. The pattern is much simpler to crochet than it looks, as only one color is used per round, and no cabling or crossing stitches is needed!

Both of Kristen’s Diamondback hat patterns (Toque and Tam) are available online at this link, in the UK-based magazine Inside Crochet. Print copies of the magazine can also be ordered at this link. UK crochet terms are translated to US terms in the back of the magazine.

Kristen dedicates each of her Wild Bird Song Designs to environmental and social causes. 10% of her proceeds from sale of this pattern will be donated to the Mendocino-Tahoe Conservancy (www.mendotahoe.org), working to preserve a network of connected natural landscapes in northern California, from the Sierra to the sea.

Additional Yarn Ideas:

Organic wool options:
Rowan Purelife British Sheep Breeds DK
Rowan Amy Butler Belle Organic DK (wool/cotton blend)
Rowan Purelife Organic Wool
Sublime Yarns Organic Merino Wool DK
The Sanguine Gryphon Free Range
BC Garn Semilla DK
WOOLganic Organic Merino Knitters Yarn
Garthenor Organic Wool DK (Shetland, Wensleydale, Black Welsh Mountain, & Manx Loghtan)
Sirdar Eco Wool DK
Lorna’s Laces Green Line DK
Treliske Organic Merino 8ply
O-Wool Legacy DK
O-Wool Balance DK (wool/cotton blend)
Stylecraft Ethical Twist 70/30 Wool/Alpaca
UK Alpaca Super Fine Alpaca (wool blend)
Hjertegarn Vidal Alpaca Superwash 100% Alpaca

Organic cotton options:
Mirasol Samp’a
Rowan Purelife Organic Cotton DK
Sublime Yarns Organic Cotton DK
Twilleys of Stamford Freedom Sincere Organic Cotton DK
Plymouth Earth Oceanside Organic Cotton
Fibranatura Cottonwood
Blue Sky Alpacas Skinny Cotton
Blue Sky Alpacas Skinny Dyed Cotton
Novita Luxus Cotton
Rowan Amy Butler Belle Organic DK (wool/cotton blend)
O-Wool Balance DK (wool/cotton blend)

Low carbon footprint options:
Quince and Co. Lark
Brooklyn Tweed Shelter
Rowan Purelife British Sheep Breeds DK

Fair trade options (best worker conditions):
Manos del Uruguay Silk Blend
Frog Tree Meriboo
Frog Tree Picoboo
Frog Tree Pima Cotton/Silk
Be Sweet Bamboo
Be Sweet Bambino
Mirasol K’acha
Mirasol Tupa
Mirasol Tuhu
Mirasol Samp’a
Mirasol Cotanani
Mirasol T’ika
Mirasol Lachiwa
Brooklyn Tweed Shelter
Quince and Co. Lark
Rowan Purelife British Sheep Breeds DK

Additional hand-dyed yarn options:
Madelinetosh Tosh DK
Madelinetosh Tosh Merino DK
Madelinetosh DK Twist
Madelinetosh Dream Alpaca
Madelinetosh Tosh Vintage
Alchemy Sanctuary
Alchemy Temple
Alchemy Migration
The Sanguine Gryphon Traveller
Malabrigo Silky Merino
Blue Moon Fiber Arts Socks that Rock Heavyweight
Jade Sapphire 6-ply cashmere
Dream in Color Everlasting DK
Louisa Harding Grace Silk & Wool
Stricken Smitten Sinful DK
Stricken Smitten Shimmer Glimmer DK
Skein Himalaya
Skein BFL DK
Skein Super DK
The Plucky Knitter 55/45 Cashmere Silk DK
The Plucky Knitter Merino Lite
The Plucky Knitter Silk Merino Lite
The Plucky Knitter Handpainted Cashmere
Mountain Colors Jeannette
Mountain Colors Cashmere
Old Maiden Aunt Alpaca/Silk Sport/DK
Lotus Yarns Cashmere DK
Hedgehog Fibers Silk/Merino Singles
Hedgehog Fibers Blue Faced DK
A Verb for Keeping Warm Slick
Colinette Cadenza
Handmaiden Double Sea Silk
Handmaiden Silken
Alchemy Silk Purse

Additional tweed & self-striping options:
Rowan Felted Tweed DK
Rowan Tapestry
Noro Maiko
Noro Silk Garden Lite

Additional solid-colored options:
Rowan RYC Silk Wool DK
Rowan Pure Wool DK
Rowan Wool Cotton
Sublime Yarns Cashmere Merino Silk DK
Sublime Extra Fine Merino DK
Sublime Angora Merino
Blue Sky Alpacas Suri Merino
Alpaca with a Twist Baby Twist
Classic Elite Wool Bam Boo
Classic Elite Miracle
Berocco Pure Merino DK
Berroco Lustra
Artesano Superwash Merino DK
Artesano Alpaca DK
Filatura di Crosa Zara
Debbie Bliss Alpaca Silk DK
Debbie Bliss Rialto
Debbie Bliss Merino DK
Classic Elite Premiere
Cascade Pima Tencel
Cascade Ultra Pima
Rico Cotton Essential DK
Debbie Bliss Pure Silk