Muffin Top

In the midst of putting together July's newsletter, tech editing the Summer Gratis Knits pattern, and updating the website, The Blogger -

(Shown above, being camera-shy, with the final draft of the new Gratis Knits)

- and I realized something terrible...

We hadn't updated The Blog in over a month.

We're overdue several articles, we know - True Plies about Habu Fique and Rowan Cotton Purelife, gossip from TNNA, No Mean Feet updates - but there's one item we've been intending to bribe our readers with for some time.

A free pattern for the Muffin Cap I made with that Fleece Artist Blue-faced Leicester roving, circa April . Several members of the staff clearly had fun trying on the second cap I made with this pattern:

Sooo, in order to whet your appetite for the next Gratis Knits, below's a free pattern (written by moi and edited by The Blogger). Until our next update, look for the new Gratis Knits (and an exciting KAL announcement) next week!

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A Very Basic Muffin Cap
by Sara Morris

Sizes
S (M, L)
Head circumference: 18 (20, 22)”

Materials

• 1 (1, 1) skein Fleece Artist BFL Aran
• US 9 (5.5mm) DPNs, set of 5.
• US 9 (5.5mm) circular needle, 16" long
• US 7 (4.5mm) circular needle, 16" long
• Stitch markers
• Tapestry needle

Gauge:
16 sts & 20 rows = 4” in St st

Abbreviations:

CO Cast on
Kf&b Knit into front and back of st
PM Place marker
Rnd round
St stitch
K knit
SM slip marker
Dec decrease
K2tog knit 2 together (dec one st)
BO bind off

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Pip:
Using DPNs, CO 4 sts. Work in i-cord for 4 rows.

Crown increases:
Rnd 1: Kf&b every st (8 sts), PM to indicate start of rnd. Switch to knitting in the rnd by placing 2 sts on each of 4 needles.
Rnd 2: Kf&b every st (16 sts).
Rnd 3: K around.
Rnd 4: *K1, kf&b, PM* around (24 sts).
Rnd 5: K around.
Rnd 6: *K to 1 st before marker, kf&b, SM* across rnd (32 sts). (Note: when there are too many sts to fit on the DPNs, switch to larger circular needle)
Repeat Rnds 5 – 6 another 10 (11, 12) times, until there are 112 (120, 128) sts.

Body:
Continue to knit in the rnd, as established, for another 2 (2.5, 3)”. On last stockinette row, dec 4 (0, 2) sts evenly across for 108 (120, 126) sts.

Brim:
Prep rnd: Using smaller circular needle, *K1, k2tog* around for a total of 72 (80, 84) sts.
Rows 1 – 5: *K1, p1* around.
Row 6: work *K1, p1* BO.

Finishing:
Weave in ends and cinch in pip at top. Block the cap flat, smoothing out the decreases and body. Wear in cool weather!