*The Doofy Hat*

Materials: Smooth worsted weight yarn such as Plymouth Galway in three colors:  
Red (MC), Royal Blue (A) and Turquoise (B). 

Gauge: 6 2/3 sts/in on US4 needles produces an 18" adult hat. (This is a tight 
gauge for the yarn, to make it warmer and more windproof.) 

Needles: either start on US4 16" circular needle and move to US4 dps when it 
gets too small, or do the whole thing on the dps. 

Directions:
Cast on 120 sts. (alternating MC and A if you like)
Join into round.
Work 1X1 corrugated rib for 2 1/2 inches: Knit sts are MC, Purl sts are A. 
Strand unused yarn across back of each st. 

Work Braid Pattern as follows:
     Work one round alternating MC and A, starting with MC and ending with A.
     Sl 1, bring yarns to front, return sl st to left needle. 
     Pull a yard or two of yarn from the balls of MC and A.
     Turn work so that you are working on the "wrong side" of ribbed band. 
     Pick up MC yarn. K 1. Drop MC yarn.
     Pick up A _over_ MC yarn. K 1. Drop A.
     Continue around, alternating colors, always picking up the new color 
     _over_ the old. Yarns will twist terribly. Complete round.
     Do another round the same way, but pick up new color _under_ old color. 
     Yarns will untwist themselves. 

Continue working on "wrong" side of rib: Braid becomes a fold line for the cuff 
of the cap.

Work 1" alternating K stitches of MC and A to form a check pattern.

Start Diamond Pattern:
     Round 1: K 3 MC, *K 1 A, K 5 MC*, K 2 R
     Round 2: K 2 MC, *K 3 A, K 3 MC*, K 3 A, K 1 MC
     Round 3: K 1 MC, *K 5 A, K 1 MC*, K 5 A
     Round 4: K all sts A
     Round 5: same as Round 3
     Round 6: same as Round 2
     Round 7: same as Round 1
     Round 8: K all sts MC

Work 6 reps of Diamond Pattern, alternating reps of contrast colors A and B, 
with MC the same for all reps.

Work Braid as before, now using MC and B.

When Braid is complete, with inside of hat facing you: sl 1, bring yarns to 
inside, return sl st to left needle. 

Go back to working from outside of hat. 

Work 1 round MC, dec 12 sts evenly around hat: 108 sts rem.

Work Boxes Pattern:
     Rounds 1,2,5,6: *K 2 A, K 2 MC*
     Rounds 3, 4: *K 2 MC, K 2 B*

Work 1 round MC, dec by a third as follows: *K 2, SSK, K2tog*: 72 sts rem.
Work 2 rounds B, dec by a third in 2nd round: 48 sts rem.
Work 2 rounds MC, dec by a third in 2nd round: 32 sts rem.
Work 2 rounds A, dec by half in 2nd round: *K2tog*: 16 sts rem.
Work 2 rounds MC. Break yarn leaving 12" tail. 
Draw yarn through sts on needles, remove from needles, pull tight to close hole 
at top.
Work in all ends.

(My first published pattern! I'm feeling protective....)
The Doofy Hat is Copyright (c) 1995 by Mary Vogt.  

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