This hat incorporates Fireflowers to add that extra bit of heat (Barbara Walker’s A Second Treasury of Knitting Patterns). The Fireflowers may look difficult but are worked with only one color each round; and they only require 30 yards/metres of contrast yarn, so it can be a great way to use that favorite colorful hand-dyed yarn. Or use neon colors to make those flowers flaming hot! The hat works up warmly and quickly in a bulky weight yarn.

SIZE
Adult S(L)
NOTE: choose a size with 1-3 inches/2.5-7 cm negative ease in circumference

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS
Circumference: 18.5(20.5) inches/ 47(52) cm
Height: 8.5(9.5) inches/ 22(24) cm - adjustable

MATERIALS
Yarn Blue (shown in size S above):
Malabrigo Yarn Chunky 100% merino; 104 yd/95 m per 100g;
MC Color #150 Azul Profundo; 1 skein
CC Color #866 Arco Iris; approximately 30 y/27 m
spacer Pom Pom: Toft, Color Camel

Yarn Burgundy (shown in size L below):
MC Cascade Yarns 128 Superwash 100% merino; 128 y/117 m per 100g; color #855 Burgundy; 1 skein
CC Malabrigo Yarn Mecha 100% Merino; 130 yd/119 m per 100g; color #850 Archangel; approx 33 y/30 m

Yarn Multi-color with glow-in-the-dark flowers (shown at the beginning of DIRECTIONS in size S ):
MC Spincycle Yarns Plump 100% Merino; 100.0 yards /91.4 meters; color Afternoon Delight; 1 skein
CC Lion Brand DIY Glow 100% Polyester; 71 y/65 m per 50g; color Off-White; 1 skein, using 2 strands twisted together – see Pattern Notes
Pom Pom: made with approx equal lengths of MC and CC, approx 25 g and 10 g

Yarn Multi-color with neon flowers (shown at end of DIRECTIONS in size S):
MC Spincycle Yarns Plump 100% wool; 100 yd/91 m; color Vibe Check 1 skein
CC Yarn Snob A Blissful Bulky 100% Merino; 106 yd/97 m per 100g; Color BeNeon; approx 30 y/27 m
spacer Pom Pom: Schildkraut Fur Large Pom Pom, Color Lime

Yarn Characteristics
MC yarns were bulky 100% wool in superwash yarns and lightly springy. Smoother yarns work best for the CC so the Fireflower petals can adjust to an attractive shape. It is possible to substitute two strands of worsted-weight yarns but you will need to twist/ply them together so they don’t separate as you’re working. I chose to do this so that I could take advantage of the fun glow-in-the-dark Lion Brand Yarn. See Pattern Notes for more details.

Recommended needle size
always use a needle size that gives you the gauge listed below - every knitter’s gauge is unique
US #10.5/6.5 mm 16 inch/40 cm circular needle
US #10.5/6.5 mm needles for small circumference in the round, for the crown decreases
US #9/5.5 mm 16 inch/40 cm circular needle
Note: If using a tubular cast on, you will need an extra needle, see instructions for the particular cast-on method

Notions
stitch marker
optional pom-pom
yarn needle

GAUGE
14 sts/24 rounds = 4 inches/10 cm in stockinette stitch with MC yarn using the larger size needle
16 sts/30 rounds = 4 inches/10 cm in Fireflower pattern stitch using the larger size needle

PATTERN NOTES
Knitty’s list of standard abbreviations and techniques can be found here.

If you’re working with worsted weight yarn for the CC, you need to twist/ply two strands together. You’ll need about 11 yards/10 m of twisted yarn for each time you work the pattern rounds. If you’re a spinner, use your preferred plying method. If you’re not a spinner, follow this tutorial for creating a twisted cord, using a hand-mixer. A device like this can also make the process easier.

Choose highly contrasting colors to make the flowers stand out. Two solid colors, or one variegated and one solid color work best. Two variegated colors may appear too “busy” and the flowers lose their visual definition.

The pattern uses only one color per round. The number of stitches on the needles increase greatly in rounds 2 & 3, and are decreased to the original number over the next few rounds. The added stitches are slipped and subsequently carried up over several rounds so they add minimally to the hat circumference.

Maintain your usual tension on the working yarn when slipping multiple stitches in rounds 4-7. This will draw the slipped stitches somewhat together. Do not float the yarn loosely as you would for stranded knitting, nor pull the yarn tightly.

There is a rapid decrease at the top for a slightly gathered look.

Danish translation available here with many thanks to Marianne Holmen.