I believe I have something novel here - the first pattern that begs for more yarn ends. Stripe away, use up all your fingering weight scraps and it only makes your hat better.

My inspiration for MoreEnds came as I was developing a new class on dealing with yarn ends. This primarily meant tricks for weaving in ends, but I did want to include the old Fair Isle technique of gathering the many, many yarn ends into a braid that ran along the side seam inside the sweater. As I was thinking about this, I wondered about rather than hiding the braid, what if it was a feature? Put it on the outside of the garment. And, what if it also could serve another functional purpose (besides securing loose yarn ends)? What if it decoratively gathered the hat fabric into a ruched side? A little knitting later, and I had a fun hat.

Tired of having to address the problem of the jog that appears when changing colors/yarns in a circular knit? Worry no more, because the transition is hidden under the braid.

Begin with a provisional cast on and knitted band for maximum stretch, minimum (no) purling and and easy way to hide that initial yarn end. Knit round and round, changing yarns at will until it’s time to decrease. When all the knitting is done, tidy up your yarn ends by working them into a braid, trim it up, and your’re done!

Skills Needed to Successfully Complete This Pattern: provisional cast on, knit, knit 2 together decrease, braid

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS

Circumference: 18½“/47 cm (stretches to 24”/61 cm)

Length: 8½”/21.5 cm

MATERIALS

Fingering weight yarn, approx. 140 yds/128 m

Orange, blue and gray hat used Shibui Staccato.

Green, blue, purple & gray hat made from a mini skein set from Sun Valley Fibers.

US #4/3.5 mm and US#2/2.75 mm 16” circular needle, or size to match gauge

US #4/ 3.5 mm double point needles (or knitter’s preference)

Spare circular needle, US# 4/3.5 mm or smaller, any length