Stranded colorwork has an addictive quality to it: you say you’ll just knit a row or two here or there, but the mystery of seeing what the next row will look like pulls you in. Just one more row! Just till I finish this repeat! you say, ending up late for…pretty much everything. Here, that addictive quality gets an added boost from a color-changing yarn, Spincycle’s Dyed in the Wool. The long draws and unexpected color changes add interest and movement to a simple, graphic colorwork pattern that’s easy to “read” and intuitive to work, while the stranding continues into the crown for a stunning final detail. This is a great chance to play in your stash and show off a “wild” yarn (speckles, heavy variegation, marling, you name it!) against a more subtle semi-solid or solid shade (like this gorgeous tonal blue shade of Magpie Fibers’ Swanky DK), or pair two solids or semi-solids for a crisp, bold look. A single skein of Dyed in the Wool plus a single skein of Swanky DK will make both the Rialto Beach Hat and a pair of the companion Rialto Beach Mitts.

Size
Adult S (M/L); circumference 17.5 (21)” / 44.45 (53) cm (unstretched); height 8.5” / 22 cm. Note on sizing: The “small” is genuinely small in this case. I like my handknitted hats with a lot of negative ease, generally, but colorwork is an exception, as it can look awkward if it’s yanked across your head. When in doubt, size up to the M/L and use an even smaller needle for the ribbing to ensure a snug fit.

Yarn
Contrast Color (CC): SpinCycle Yarns Dyed in the Wool (100% American Wool; 200 yards / 183 meters per 1.8 oz / 50 grams); 1 skein, or 200 yards / 183 meters of heavy sport to light DK weight yarn in your desired contrast color. Sample shown in Mississippi Marsala.
Main Color (MC): Magpie Fibers Swanky DK (80% Merino Wool, 10% Cashmere, 10% Nylon; 250 yards / 229 meters per 3.5 oz / 100 grams); 1 skein, or 100 yards / 91 meters of DK weight wool or wool-blend yarn. Sample shown in Bell Bottom Blues.
Note: you can get both the hat and the companion mitts out of one skein of Swanky DK and one skein of Dyed in the Wool.

Gauge
27.5 sts and 32 rnds per 4” / 10 cm in stockinette on larger needles, after blocking.

Needles
One long (32” / 80 cm or longer) circular needle (for magic loop), or 5 double-pointed needles, per knitter preference, in sizes US 5 / 3.75 mm and US 2 / 2.75 mm or size needed to obtain gauge and three needle sizes smaller.

Notions
Stitch markers (optional); tapestry needle.

Skills Required
Decreasing; knitting in the round; small-circumference circular knitting using double-pointed needles or magic loop; stranded colorwork.