Drifting Sands Beanie

  This beanie is inspired by a pattern I saw in The Knit Stitch Pattern Handbook.  It's a nice resource of 300 patterns of all types.  The repeating wavy pattern caught my eye and I knew that I wanted to make a beanie with it.  It's a very simple pattern using only knits and purls which repeats every 5 rows.  The result is a fun looking pattern with a nice texture to it as well.
  This pattern has a good amount of stretch to it, both vertically and horizontally, so gauge isn't too important.  My head is 22", and the hat I made fits snugly but without needing to be stretched.  It comes down over my ears easily.  If I pull it down tight it fits as a skullcap, but it can also be worn a little bit more loosely.

Materials You Will Need:

• Approximately 55 grams of sport weight yarn.  I used Malabrigo Arroyo in the color Sand Bank.
• US #4 circular needles 22" (or DPNs)
• US #6 circular needles 22" (or DPNs)
• Stitch marker
• Tapestry needle

Skills You Will Need:

• Casting on
• Knit 
• Purl
• K2tog
• P2tog
• SSK
• SSP
• Weaving in ends

  The gauge I got with the US #6 needles in the repeating pattern was 25 stitches and 44 rows = 4 inches.  Like I said, since this pattern has a very forgiving stretch, gauge isn't vital in my opinion.  But it could be useful if you want to adjust this pattern for a difference sized head.

  Begin by casting on 126 stitches, or whatever multiple of 14 you think will work best for your hat, onto the smaller needles.  I used the long tail cast on.  Place your stitch marker here to designate the end of your row, and join in the round.

  Knit 2x2 ribbing for approximately 1 inch.  Now switch over to your larger needles for the body of the hat.  The pattern repeats every 5 rows.  Knit this pattern as many times as you need until you have a total of 6 inches of knitting, including the 2x2 rib brim.

• Row 1 = *P1, K3, P7, K3* repeat to marker
• Row 2 = *P2, K3, P5, K3, P1* 
• Row 3 = *K1, P2, K9, P2* 
• Row 4 = *K2, P2, K7, P2, K1*
• Row 5 = *K3, P2, K5, P2, K2*

  Be sure to end the body of your hat on row 5, so the crown decreases will properly continue the pattern.  The crown uses alternating left and right decreases in order to prevent twisting the pattern.  Switch to DPNs or use the magic loop technique whenever you need to.

• Row 1 = *P1, K3, P2, P2tog, P3, K3* = 117 stitches
• Row 2 = *P2, K3, P4, K3, P1*
• Row 3 = *K1, P2, K3, K2tog, K3, P2* = 108 stitches
• Row 4 = *K2, P2, K5, P2, K1*
• Row 5 = *K3, P2, SSK, K1, P2, K2* = 99 stitches
• Row 6 = *P1, K3, P4, K3* 
• Row 7 = *P2, K3, SSP, K3, P1* = 90 stitches
• Row 8 = *K1, P2, K5, P2* 
• Row 9 = *K2, P2, SSK, K1, P2, K1* = 81 stitches
• Row 10 = *K3, P4, K2*
• Row 11 = *P1, K3, P2, K1, K2tog* = 72 stitches
• Row 12 = *P2, K1, SSK, K2, P1* = 63 stitches
• Row 13 = *K1, P2, K2tog, P2* = 54 stitches
• Row 14 = *K2, P2tog, P1, K1* = 45 stitches
• Row 15 = *P1, K1, SSP, K1* = 36 stitches
• Row 16 = *K1 P2tog, K1* = 27 stitches
• Row 17 = *P1, K2tog* = 18 stitches
• Row 18 = *SSK* = 9 stitches

  Cut your yarn leaving at least an 8 inch tail.  Using your tapestry needle, weave the remaining tail through the last 9 stitches.  Weave in both of your ends and enjoy!