For this super simple, super warm hat, you need approximately 190-200 total yards of worsted-weight yarn held triple. By knitting with three strands, rather than a single strand of superbulky, you get to create the sweet little braided loop detail up top. You can either wind off three balls of 65 to 70 yards each (i.e., one half skein of Lark per ball), and knit with them held triple. Or, for the safer and easier approach, wind your yarn as usual and use the Navajo Ply method to create the tripled strand as you go. If you Navajo Ply, when you get near the end of the crown decrease section, pull out a crazy-long loop — like 6 feet — to be 100% sure you can finish the knitting and break the long tails for the braid without encountering the bend in your loop. I’d also recommend splicing on the second skein when you come to it.

Materials:

• 2 skeins Quince and Co. Lark (134 yards / 123 meters per 50g skein, pictured in Sabine) or approximately 195-200 yards worsted-weight yarn, held triple throughout (see note above)
• 16″ circular needle and set of DPNs in size needed to match gauge (suggested size US13/9mm)
• 16″ circular needle two sizes smaller for ribbing (suggested size US11/8mm)
• 3 stitch markers and 1 contrasting Beginning of Round marker
• tapestry needle for weaving in ends

Measurements:

• Gauge: 10 sts and 18 rounds = 4″ in stockinette stitch
• Size: 18″ circumference at brim (unstretched); 8″ tall