Free Faux Argyle Toque Knitting Pattern

This is the one piece of knitting I did for Christmas this year, and I simply made up the pattern as I went along. After knitting, I felted it for extra warmth.

Difficulty level:

• Beginner to intermediate

You will need:

• 1 skein Noro Kureyon (I think this is colour #40) or equivalent yarn
• 1 set 16" cicular needles (4 mm or correct size to obtain gauge)
• 4 double-pointed needles (4 mm or correct size to obtain gauge)
• Row marker (can be a loop of contrasting yarn placed on needles.)
• Tapestry needle with large eye

Gauge:

• 17 stitches x 21 rows = 4" square

Abbreviations:

• K = Knit
• P = Purl
• K2Tog = Knit two stitches together

Directions:

• Cast 80 stitches onto circular needles. Insert row marker.
• Rows 1-12: Knit in the round
• Row 13: (P1 K9) Repeat to end of row.
• Row 14: (K1 P1 K7 P1) Repeat to end of row.
• Row 15: (K2 P1 K5 P1 K1) Repeat to end of row.
• Row 16: (K3 P1 K3 P1 K2) Repeat to end of row.
• Row 17: (K4 P1 K1 P1 K3) Repeat to end of row.
• Row 18: (K5 P1 K4) Repeat to end of row.
• Row 19: (K4 P3 K3) Repeat to end of row.
• Row 20: (K3 P5 K2) Repeat to end of row.
• Row 21: (K2 P7 K1) Repeat to end of row.
• Row 22: (K1 P9) Repeat to end of row.
• Row 23: Purl entire row.
• Row 24: (K1 P9) Repeat to end of row.
• Row 25: (K2 P7 K1) Repeat to end of row.
• Row 26: (K3 P5 K2) Repeat to end of row.
• Row 27: (K4 P3 K3) Repeat to end of row.
• Row 28: (K5 P1 K4) Repeat to end of row.
• Row 29: (K4 P1 K1 P1 K3) Repeat to end of row.
• Row 30: (K3 P1 K3 P1 K2) Repeat to end of row.
• Row 31: (K2 P1 K5 P1 K1) Repeat to end of row.
• Row 32: (K1 P1 K7 P1) Repeat to end of row.
• Row 33: (P1 K9) Repeat to end of row.
• Rows 34-45: Knit in the round
• Now, begin to decrease; switch to double-pointed needles when hat becomes too narrow to knit easily on circular needles.
• Row 46: (K2Tog K8) Repeat to end of row. (=72 stitches)
• Row 47: (K2Tog K7) Repeat to end of row. (=64 stitches)
• Row 48: (K2Tog K6) Repeat to end of row. (=56 stitches)
• Row 49: (K2Tog K5) Repeat to end of row. (=48 stitches)
• Row 50: (K2Tog K4) Repeat to end of row. (=40 stitches)
• Row 51: (K2Tog K3) Repeat to end of row. (=32 stitches)
• Row 52: (K2Tog K2) Repeat to end of row. (=24 stitches)
• Row 53: (K2Tog K1) Repeat to end of row. (=16 stitches)
• Row 54: (K2Tog) Repeat to end of row. (=8 stitches)

Break yarn, leaving at least a 15" tail. Slip remaining 8 stitches onto the tapestry needle and bind off the closing snugly, weaving the end of the thread in and out around the top two rows of knitting until it feels completely secure. Weave in any loose tails of thread.

This is what it looked like when I finished knitting it. I then washed it with a load of other laundry in cold water and dried it on low heat, also with a load of laundry, in order to felt it, stopping the cycle occasionally to make sure it didn't shrink too much. This step is optional, but Noro Kureyon felts nicely, and the hat will be warmer if it's felted.