Here’s a unique hat I designed a while back for a cellist friend (Stephanie) to knit for a mutual violist friend who was having a baby. Since I'd already made a pair of viola booties for this baby, Stephanie wanted to try knitting a viola scroll onto a hat. I knit up this sample hat so I could write a pattern for Stephanie to make, and had a lot of fun both designing and photographing it. I waited to post this until Stephanie finished and sent off the project so that I wouldn't spoil the surprise, which is why Annie is almost a year younger in these pictures. (OK, I could've posted this before Christmas. Life has been a little crazy these last few months.)


Size: 3-6 months (Stretches well, and can be changed easily by going up or down in needle size)

Materials: 3-5 colors of worsted yarn, one in a nice wood shade of brown like a violin, one in a contrasting shade for strings.

Tools: 16 inch circular needle, size 8; set of 4 double pointed needles (dpn), size 8; yarn needle; scissors

Hat

Cast on 60 stitches. Join, and work in k2p2 ribbing for four rows to form the brim. Change to stockinette stitch (k every row), working stripe sequence as desired. Work 4 inches from brim/4.5 inches from cast on edge.

Begin decrease sequence

Row 1: k8, k2tog (54 sts)

Row 2 and all even rows: k all sts

Row 3: k7, k2tog (48 sts)

Row 5: k6, k2tog (42 sts)

Row 7: k5, k2tog (36 sts)

Row 8: k all sts, CHANGE TO DPNs

Row 9: k4, k2tog (30 sts)

Row 11: k3, k2 tog (24 sts)

Row 13: k2, k2tog (18 sts)


Scroll pattern

Arrange all stitches on 2 dpns (9 sts on each needle) with seam in back (5 sts on first needle, 9 on next, 4 on third needle, then knit first 5 onto needle with the 4; 9 on each needle) and work to form a flat tube.

All measurements are from start of scroll pattern. Each increase or decrease row is repeated on both needles, stitch count is for both needles.

Row 1-10: k even (1 in), 18 sts.

Row 11: k2, k2tog, k1, k2tog, k2. 14 sts.

Row 12-15: k even (2.25 in).

Row 16: k1, k2tog, k1, k2tog, k1. 10 sts.

Row 17-29: k even (4.25 in).

Row 30: k2, m1, k1, m1, k2. 14 sts.

Row 31-34: k even (5 in)

Row 35: k3, m1, k1, m1, k3. 18 sts.

Row 36-39: k even (5.75 in)

Row 40: k4, m1, k1, m1, k4. 22 sts.

Row 41-59: k even (8.5 in)

Row 60: k5, m1, k1, m1, k5. 26 sts.

Row 61-64: k even (9.25 in)

Row 65: k6, m1, k1, m1, k6. 30 sts.

Row 66-69: k even (10.5 in)

Row 70: k7, m1, k1, m1, k7. 34 sts.

Row 71-74: k even (11.25 in)

Row 75: k8, m1, k1, m1, k8. 38 sts.

Row 76-86: k even

Entire scroll piece measures 13 inches.

Cut yarn, graft front and back needles together with kitchener stitch. Tie off and hide tail end inside tube.

With contrasting color, embroider with the chain stitch up the center back of the scroll to highlight the ridge.

Roll toward the front so that scroll makes three full circles, consult photo as needed. Sew bottom front edge of scroll to hat with main color.


Pegs

Fold hat in half, front to back. On left edge just below crown decrease, pick up and knit two stitches with one needle. Repeat with second needle: 4 sts.

Row 2-3 knit in the round to form i-cord

Row 4: co 2 sts, k2, co 2. Repeat on second needle. 12 sts.

Row 5-7: k even.

Row 8: k2tog, k2, k2 tog. Repeat on second needle. 8 sts.

Cut yarn and graft stitches together with kitchener stitck.

Repeat for four more pegs, referring to photo for placement.


Strings

Secure strand of yarn to peg, pulling tail through and hiding inside peg. Wind string around peg twice, then bring over the peg and down to the middle front of hat. Yarn goes in at top of the brim, then circles around brim, back inside and secured. Repeat with four other pegs, referring to picture for help.


Finishing

Secure any loose threads, making especially certain that strings are tied tightly.


Enjoy! Let me know if you find any errors in this pattern. If you make a string quartet hat, I'd love to see any of your versions of this pattern on Ravelry!