Hlýtt by Heather Storta

Beyond the Pattern

Hlýtt means “warm” in old Icelandic. My husband and I took a vacation to Iceland in September of this year, and I designed this hat to celebrate that vacation. Inspired by Icelandic lopapeysa sweaters, and using true Icelandic yarn, I wanted to knit a pair of hats that would keep us warm in the chilly climate. I finished them in time to take with us, so you’ll see some photos of us wearing them in front of waterfalls we saw while in Iceland.

Some rounds require holding three colors at once. Keep your tension nice and loose! The yarn called for is “grippy,” so there is no need to lock floats. The crown is a little bit taller than a beanie, to accommodate deep heads or hair up in a bun. If you have a shallower head and/or wish to wear it lower on the head, you can roll the ribbing up higher to reduce the height (and/or knit the ribbing shorter.)

Sizes

Adult S (M, L)

Finished Measurements

Brim Circumference: 17 (20, 23)”
To Fit: 18 (21, 24)” head
Height: 11.5” (with brim unfolded), 9.5” (with brim folded)

Materials

Lopi FJALLALOPI (164yds/150m, 50g/1.75oz, 100% Icelandic Wool): 1 ball each of #3056 Grey Sky (A), #3002 Moorit (B), #3051 Lily White (C), and #3021 Bay Blue (D)
Size 3 (3.25mm) 24” circular needles and dpns or size needed to obtain gauge
Cable needle
Tapestry needle

Optional Supplies:

Toggle clasp, for securing pompom
Faux fur pompom
Polar fleece fabric
Sewing thread
Sewing needle

Gauge

In stranded St st, 28 sts & 30 rnds = 4”/10cm. To save time, take time to check gauge.

Stitch Patterns

See Hlýtt Charts 1 and 2.

2×2 Rib (multiple of 2 sts, in the rnd)
All Rnds: *K2, p2; rep from * to end.

Special Techniques

Italian Tubular Cast On

See this video tutorial.

TECHNICAL TIP—Working tubular cast on flat for the first few rows as double knitting is happening allows for a less frustrating start! The small gap that results can be sewn shut at the end with the tail.

Brim

Using Italian tubular CO and A, beg with a slip knot that will act as a knit st, CO 120 (140, 160) sts, leaving an 8” tail.

Working flat, work 4 rows of double knitting as foll:
Row 1 (RS/WS): *K1, sl 1 wyif; rep from * to end.
Rep Row 1 three more times.

Rearrange sts to work 2×2 Rib as foll:
Next Row (RS): *K1, sl 1 st to cn and hold to back, k1, p1 from cn, p1; rep from * to end.

Join to work in the rnd and beg working 2×2 Rib in the rnd.

Optional: When brim is 2” in length, work a purl turning rnd (by knitting all sts) to help keep the brim turned.

Work 2×2 Rib until brim is 4”, or desired brim depth. (For customizing height, note the body of the hat will measure 7.5” at target gauge when complete.)

Knit one rnd.

Body

Begin working Hlýtt chart over all sts.

Work stitches from Hlýtt Chart 1 (Rnds 1-27) and then from Chart 2 (Rnds 28-56), switching to dpns as decreases in the crown reduce the circumference—12 (14, 16) sts. Break B.

DESIGNER NOTE—Move BOR marker on Rnd 54 as follows: remove marker, unknit prior stitch and slip to the LH needle tip, then replace marker and begin round.

Next Rnd: *Ssk; rep from * around—6 (7, 8) sts.

Break yarn, leaving a long tail of D. Thread onto tapestry needle and pull tail through rem sts to secure. Pull tight to close top.

Finishing

Sew tog small gap at CO edge with tail. Block and weave in all ends.

Pompom (Optional)

Make pompom with any or all colors used in hat, attaching a long tail for securing to top of hat. (Alternatively, use a faux fur pompom shown on sample.)

Attach pompom to top of hat, threading tails through top center of hat and securing with toggle clasp on the inside of hat.

Headband (optional)

Cut fabric to 2” wide and 18 (21, 24)” long. Sew short ends together to form a headband. (Use sewing machine or hand stitch with sewing thread. The cut long edges of the polar fleece should not fray, but you can use a sewing machine to hem the long edges, if desired.) The headband will be slightly larger than the hat.

Using sewing thread, sew headband to inside brim of hat along top and bottom edges, covering about 1” of the upper ribbing and about 1” of the lower portion of the body of the hat. Gently stretch the hat to fit the headband while sewing. Take care to catch only the inside sts so that sewing does now show to RS of hat.