While I created this design in honor of the Chinese zodiac Year of the Monkey, you may also recognize the “barrel of monkeys” silhouette in the stranded border. Lightly variegated yarns add interest to the stranded motif. You could certainly choose to use the bright primary colors of the monkeys that come in the barrel, but I like the shadowy version myself! Sinister or silly? It’s up to you.

This hat is worked in the round from the bottom up, and is shown with an optional tassel.

Difficulty is Intermediate: Skills include working in the round, reading a chart, and stranded knitting.

Finished Sizes
16 (18¾, 211/4, 24)“/40.5 (47.5, 54, 61) cm circumference, to fit small children (large children, teens and small-medium adults, large adults). Recommend measuring wearer’s head for best fit; most wearers prefer hats with 1-3” of negative ease. Height of hat is approximately 7¾ (9, 10, 10)”/19.5 (23, 25.5, 25.5) cm.
Shown in size 211/4”/54 cm with 1¾“/4.5 cm negative ease.

Materials
Yarn Light worsted weight (#3 Light) yarn. Main Color (MC): 135 (170, 205, 225) yd/120 (155, 190, 205) m. Contrast Color (CC): 40 (50, 55, 60)yd/35 (45, 50, 55) m.
If using a variegated yarn for MC and/or CC, ALL colors within one yarn(s) should be lighter or darker than ALL colors in other yarn, or design will not display properly.

Shown in Madelinetosh Tosh DK, 100% superwash merino wool, 225 yds/206 m per 3.5 oz/100 g skein; MC Kitten, 1 skein for all sizes; CC Whiskey Barrel, 1 skein for all sizes. (For greater contrast between MC and CC, substitute Whiskers for Kitten.)

Needles US size 6/4.0 mm: Set of double-pointed needles (dpn). Optional for larger sizes: 20”/50 cm circular needle. US size 7/4.5 mm: set of dpn or 20”/50 cm circular needle, for stranded pattern. Adjust needle size if necessary to obtain the correct gauge.

Notions Stitch marker; tapestry needle.

Gauge
21 sts/27 rnds to 4”/10 cm in stockinette stitch on smaller needles; same in stranded patt on larger needles. Measure gauge on lightly blocked swatch; blocking is optional for ribbed and St st portions of hat, but stranded band should at least be steam blocked to even stitches.