Star Tams by Dawn Brocco

Star Tams

Knitting
December 2024
both are used in this pattern
Aran (8 wpi) ?
20 stitches and 28 rows = 4 inches
in stockinette
US 8 - 5.0 mm
US 6 - 4.0 mm
US 10½ - 6.5 mm
US 9 - 5.5 mm
127 - 192 yards (116 - 176 m)
English
This pattern is available as a free Ravelry download

About The Design:
This tam pattern addresses an issue I have with most tams – and that is, that the brim is far too large, to fit a head with fine, straight, and/or short hair. Most tams either keep the head circ. for the brim, or deduct only up to 20%, which may fit well on a full, thick head of hair, but quickly slide off fine or short hair!

These tams use a brim circumference of 25 to 30% less than the actual head circumference, for a better fit.

The tams are sampled in 2 Cascade Yarns – soft Cloud and even softer Eco Duo. The Zebra colorway in the Eco Duo is my favorite, and as it is a palindrome, it is easy to double up for the bulky weight version.

The pattern offers one size in the heavy worsted weight (M-L), with 2 samples, and 1 size in the bulky weight (S-M), with one sample.

Details include a twisted rib brim and an I-cord knot or bow in a contrasting color.

Size
To fit a woman’s S-M / M-L head, of approx. 20-21” / 22-23”.

The size S-M fits my 21” head best, as my hair is pixie short, fine, and straight. The ribbed brim dimensions may seem too small, but they stretch a lot!

Finished Dimensions
Heavy Worsted: M-L / M-L Bulky: S-M
Brim Circ: approx. 16.8” / 16.4” 14.75”
Tam Diameter: approx. 10.5-11 / 10.25-10.75” 9.5 -10”
Depth, Brim to Top of Crown: 7.75” / 8.33”

Materials - Heavy Worsted
Size M-L, Sample 1:
Cascade Yarns Cloud, 70% Merino wool / 30% baby alpaca, 164 yds / 100 gr: 1 hank #2115 Raspberry (MC) (held double), and Eco Duo, 70% Baby Alpaca / 30% Merino, 197 yds/100 gr:: 1 hank #1701 Zebra (CC).
Sample weighs 88 gr.

Size M-L, Sample 2: Eco Duo: 1 hank #1701 Zebra (MC), and Cloud: 1 hank color #2110 Ruby (CC)
16” US size 6 (4 mm) ckns
16” and 20-24” US size 8 (5 mm) ckns
US size 8 dpns
Tapestry ndl, 6 stitch markers, stitch holder or waste yarn
Sample weighs 77 gr.

Materials - Bulky
Size S-M: Eco Duo:
1 hank #1701 Zebra (MC), and Cloud: 1 hank #2115 Raspberry (CC). Yarns are held double to achieve the bulky gauge.
Sample weighs 95 gr.

16” US size 9 (5.5 mm) ckns
16” and 20-24” US size 10.5 (6.5 mm) ckns
US size 10.5 dpns
Tapestry ndl, 6 stitch markers, stitch holder or waste yarn

Also available in my Payhip shop.

Happy Knitting! Dawn