1. Work 4 plain stitches, then wrap yarn around rt hand needle 6 times, and work 4 more plain sts.
2. Next round or row, work plain (knit if work in round, purl of working back and forth) and when you reach the wrapped st, work in K, P, K, P, K, P, then finish row.
3. Knit the same 4 sts up to the wrapped st. k across the 6 sts, turn the work to back, sl first st, purl 5. Turn again, sl 1 st, k 5 and complete row.
4. Work straight across.
5. Knit first 3 sts, SSK, k 4, k 2 tog, k 3
6. Work straight across
7. K 3, SSK, k2, k2tog, k3.
8. Work plain
9. K 3, SSK, K2tog, k3
10. Work plain.
11. K3, k2tog, k3
So for this hat you'll need white for snow, and green for tree, both worsted weight; size US 7 and 10 needles
For the bottom I made a strip of cable st long enough to fit the head around. My choice was the Aran Braid, p. 167 A Second Treasury of Knitting Patterns, B. Walker. I kitchenered it together and finished it off.
Pick up and knit with green, and with larger needles, sts from round of cable, about 1 st for every 2 rows. It can easily be adjusted as you go.
Knit 3 or 4 rounds and begin to add Fir Branch Sts randomly.
Work in this manner for 5 or 6 inches.
My Fir Branches are from 4 to 10 or 12 sts apart and vary from row to row. That is, they are not all placed on one row. They are very random as to how many sts are in between each one and as to how many rows between starting new branches.
Begin to Decrease as follows: At the tip of the branch st, after No. 11, work one more plain row, and then one more decrease at the tip of the branch. After 6 or 7 inches you'll only have 2 or 3 sts left which can be gathered up together for the tip of the tree.
Decorate as desired. I'm making a silver star and some tiny metallic thread embroidered ornaments.
Yep, this hat has holes in it. I'm sure those of you who experience real winter will not enjoy it out of doors, but those of us who live on the north Pacific Coast can get away with it.