If you wear an Anemone Hat, you will have to get used to being stopped by strangers who are smiling at you and want to tell you how much they like your hat. In the Pacific Northwest, I wear my hats fall through spring, and they inspire ten times as many comments as anything else I have ever designed. An Anemone Hat can provide all these things for you: cozy warmth, beauty, a non-prescription anti-depressant, and a good-hair day.

The pattern includes the Everyday Anemone as well as a heavier version called the Arctic Anemone, which also has a picot edge variation.

Both versions give you the choice of Moebius brim or a simple circle brim. If you’ve never made a Moebius before, you’ll find detailed instructions, illustrations, and a live link to my Moebius video tutorial (which has well over a quarter of a million views) to start you on your way. The pattern also includes a live link to my tendril video tutorial. Designer Annie Modesitt taught me to make tendrils — thank you, Annie!

The Everyday Anemone Hat is knit with worsted yarn at 4 1/4 sts to the inch, and comes in five sizes, from baby to large adult. The Arctic Anemone comes in two adult sizes, and is knit with bulky yarn at 3 sts to the inch. Both hats should be knit with super wash yarn so the tendrils can be plumped up in the washer and dryer. You will love the transformation when they come out.

After years of being asked for the pattern, I am very glad to have finally produced it One reason it took so long is that I wanted to rewrite and re-illustrate the Moebius instructions that appeared in my two Moebius knitting books, A Treasury of Magical Knitting and A Second Treasury Of Magical Knitting, both now out of print. In the years I have been teaching Moebius knitting, I have fine-tuned my instruction it so it is easier to understand, and this pattern reflects that evolution. I do expect to release the two Treasuries as eBooks in 2012, with updated material and some new designs as well.

YARN
For everyday Anemone, Lorna’s Laces Shepherd Worsted (100% superwash wool, 100 g / 225 yds), 1 skein. Please use a superwash wool, because machine washing and drying make the tendrils become delightfully bouncy, plump, and elegant.

For Arctic Anemone, String Theory Bulky Merino (100% superwash, 4 oz / 106 m), 2 skeins

ERRATA
page 6, Round 26 for Brim option #2, size Adult lg only should read: Repeat (k6, m1) until only 8 sts remain, k8—92 sts.