Ghost Party Halloween Hat

Hello my fellow knitters! With my hopes that this year's Halloween will bring us some semblance of normalcy and joy, I decided to start designing for it early. This hat is my first project for the upcoming fall season, and it comes in three sizes for adults. It features a cute round of heart-eyed ghosts having a great time. I’m done working on another version of this hat for toddlers and children, which comes with a spooky round of Jack-o'-lanterns instead. Both hat designs have a spider web pattern at the top, with a small pompom that (I decided) represents a fluffy spider (feel free to add googly eyes and black pipe cleaners if you like). I love designing intarsia themed patterns, though sometimes, I struggle with it. But when all goes well, these patterns look very cute and are super easy to make. So have fun making this hat, and remember, it's never too early to start knitting Halloween/Fall patterns. Stay safe and healthy!

Skill level: Intermediate

Materials:

• Yarn: NAKO Elit Baby, 100% premium anti-piling acrylic, 3.5 oz. (100 g), 273 yards (250 m), in the following colors: Lavender (10625): 1 skein, White (208): 1 skien, and Black (217): 1 skein.
• Circular knitting needles, 16" (40 cm) long, size US 7 (4.5 mm).
• Double pointed needles (DPNs) set, size US 7 (4.5 mm).
• Tapestry needle.
• Stitch marker.

Sizes and measurements: 

• Size S: head circumference = 20" (53 cm), height = 8" (20.3 cm).
• Size M: head circumference = 22" (56 cm), height = 8" (20.3 cm).
• Size L: head circumference = 24" (61 cm), height = 8.5" (21.6 cm).

Gauge: 20 sts and 25 rounds = 4"x 4" (10 cm x 10 cm) in stockinette stitch.

Yardage: 

• Size S: 118 - 120 yards (108 - 110 m).
• Size M: 130 - 132 yards (118 - 120 m). 
• Size L: 140 - 142 yards (128 - 130 m) approx.

Knitting Terms:

• st: stitch.
• sts: stitches.
• k: knit.
• p: purl.
• ssk: slip, slip, knit the two slipped stitches together through back loops.
• s2s1ktog: slip two sts as if to knit them together, slip the third one knit-wise, knit the three sts together through back loops (centered double decrease). You can watch my tutorial video below to learn how to knit this stitch:

Instructions:

 

With lavender yarn, cast on 84 (96, 108) sts. Join in the round. Don't know how to join in the round? here is a short tutorial on how to do it (from 0:26 - 1:15 min): 

 

Put a ring stitch marker at the beginning of rounds, knit one round, then work as follows:

Ribs round: k 3, p 1, repeat to end.

Repeat the ribs round 8 (8, 10) times. Purl one round, knit 3 (4, 6) rounds.

 

Using lavender (L), white (W) and black (B) yarns, work the chart from right to left (go to the end of this post). Cut W and B yarns.

 

Knit 3 (4, 6) rounds, purl 1 round, then work as follows:

 

Round: k 13 (15, 17), p 1, repeat to end.

 

Repeat the round 3 (4, 6).

 

Decreasing rounds:

 

With W yarn, work next round:

 

Round 1: k 5 (6, 7) s2s1ktog, k 5 (6, 7), p 1, repeat to end.

 

With L and W yarn, work the next two rounds:

 

Rounds 2 and 3: with L yarn k 5 (6, 7), with W yarn k 1, with L yarn k 5 (6, 7), p 1, repeat to end.

 

With W yarn, work next round:

 

Round 4: k 4 (5, 6) s2s1ktog, k 4 (5, 6), p 1, repeat to end. 

 

Rounds 5 and 6: with L yarn k 4 (5, 6), with W yarn k 1, with L yarn k 4 (5, 6), p 1, repeat to end.

 

With W yarn, work next round:

 

Round 7: k 3 (4, 5) s2s1ktog, k 3 (4, 5), p 1, repeat to end. 

 

Rounds 8 and 9: with L yarn k 3 (4, 5), with W yarn k 1, with L yarn k 3 (4, 5), p 1, repeat to end.

With W yarn, work next round:

 

Round 10: k 2 (3, 4) s2s1ktog, k 2 (3, 4), p 1, repeat to end. 

 

Size S:

Change to DPNs needles and work as follows:

Round 11: with L yarn k 2, with W yarn k 1, with L yarn k 2, p 1, repeat to end, cut L yarn.

With W yarn, work last rounds:

Round 12: k 1, s2s1ktog, k 1, p 1, repeat to end. 

 

Round 13: s2s1ktog, p 1, repeat to end. (12) sts 

Cut yarn leaving a 6" (15 cm) long yarn tail, pull it through all sts and tighten tog. Weave in loose ends. 

 

Size M:

Change to DPNs needles and work as follows:

 

Round 11: with L yarn k 3, with W yarn k 1, with L yarn k 3, p 1, repeat to end, cut L yarn.

With W yarn, work last rounds:

Round 12: k 2, s2s1ktog, k 2, p 1, repeat to end.

 

Round13: k 5, p 1, repeat to end.

 

Round 14: k 1, s2s1ktog, k 1, p 1, repeat to end. 

 

Round 15: s2s1ktog, p 1, repeat to end. (12) sts 

Cut yarn leaving a 6" (15 cm) long yarn tail, pull it through all sts and tighten tog. Weave in loose ends.

 

Size L:

Change to DPNs needles and work as follows:

 

Rounds 11 and 12: with L yarn k 4, with W yarn k 1, with L yarn k 4, p 1, repeat to end.

 

Round 13: k 3, s2s1ktog, k 3, p 1, repeat to end.

 

Round 14: with L yarn k 3, with W yarn k 1, with L yarn k 3, p 1, repeat to end, cut L yarn.

With W yarn, work last rounds: 

Round 15: k 2, s2s1ktog, k 2, p 1, repeat to end. 

 

Round 16: k 5, p 1, repeat to end.

 

Round 17: k 1, s2s1ktog, k 1, p 1, repeat to end. 

 

Round 18: s2s1ktog, p 1, repeat to end. (12) sts 

 

Cut yarn leaving a 6" (15 cm) long yarn tail, pull it through all sts and tighten tog. Weave in loose ends. 

 

Make a 2.5"(6 cm) diameter pompom using black yarn and fix it tight on top.

Lastly, feel free to leave a comment if you have any questions or find something confusing in the pattern.

Happy crocheting/knitting! follow me on Instagram @wiams_crafts and Twitter @wiamscrafts to see my upcoming projects.