purlJam

<pattern>

# WINTER BUCKET HAT
**Worked Brim-to-Crown on Circular Attachment**

A cozy worsted-weight wool bucket hat with eye-level coverage and beautiful color-blended transition. Worked seamlessly on a circular knitting attachment from brim to crown with gentle shaping for a modern silhouette.

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## MATERIALS

**Yarn**: Worsted weight wool (approximately 150-180 yards total)
- Color A (Brim): 50-60 yards
- Color B (Body): 90-120 yards

**Machine**: Standard gauge (4.5mm) knitting machine with 10.5" diameter circular attachment (Brother Circular Sock Knitter, Singer SRP60N, or equivalent)

**Notions**:
- Ravel cord and waste yarn for cast-on
- Double-eye transfer tool or latch tool
- Tapestry needle for finishing
- Stitch markers (optional, for tracking decrease positions)
- Hanging weights (if needed for even tension)

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## GAUGE/TENSION

**Tension Dial**: T6-7 (adjust based on your machine and desired fabric hand)
**Resulting Gauge**: 6 stitches and 7 rows = 1" in stockinette, knit in the round

*Always swatch on your circular attachment and measure after light steaming. Adjust tension dial to achieve gauge.*

**Mathematical check**: 132 sts ÷ 6 sts/in = 22" circumference

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## FINISHED MEASUREMENTS

**Circumference**: 22" (55.9 cm) – designed with slight negative ease for snug fit
**Depth**: Approximately 8.5-9" (21.6-22.9 cm) from brim edge to crown

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## ABBREVIATIONS & TERMS

- **RC**: Row Counter
- **COL**: Carriage on Left
- **COR**: Carriage on Right
- **T**: Tension dial setting
- **ndl(s)**: needle(s)
- **Color A**: First/brim color
- **Color B**: Second/body color
- **dec**: decrease (via transfer)
- **WY**: waste yarn
- **tog**: together (two strands held as one)

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## PATTERN NOTES

1. **Circular Knitting**: This pattern requires a circular attachment. All knitting is in the round; every row creates stockinette on the public side.

2. **Needle Count**: Pattern uses 132 needles evenly spaced on the circular bed. Mark starting position (needle 1) with tape or marker.

3. **Blended Transition**: For the 1" transition zone, both Color A and Color B are threaded through the yarn mast together, creating a blended/marled effect.

4. **Crown Shaping**: Decreases are worked by transferring stitches to adjacent needles, then bringing empty needles out of work. Work decreases evenly spaced around.

5. **Row Counter**: Set RC to 000 after completing cast-on and before beginning brim.

6. **Tension Consistency**: When working with two strands together during transition, you may need to adjust tension down by 1 number (to T5-6) to maintain gauge. Test and adjust.

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## INSTRUCTIONS

### SETUP & CAST-ON

1. **Machine Setup**:
   - Attach circular knitting attachment to machine bed.
   - Thread Color A through yarn mast and tension unit.
   - Set tension dial to **T6** (or your preferred setting to achieve gauge).
   - Set row counter to 000.

2. **Cast-On with Ravel Cord Method**:
   - Bring **132 needles** into work position (B position), evenly distributed around the circular bed.
   - Using waste yarn and ravel cord, cast on 132 stitches following your circular attachment manual's instructions (typically: hang cast-on comb with weights, knit several rows of WY, insert ravel cord, knit 1 row, remove cord).
   - Switch to Color A.
   - Knit 2-3 rows at T3-4 (loose) to establish stitches, then increase tension to **T6**.
   - Set RC to 000.

**RC 000**: 132 stitches in work, carriage position noted, Color A threaded, ready to begin brim.

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### BRIM SECTION (COLOR A)

**Rows 1-21** (RC 000-021):
- Knit in Color A at **T6**.
- Circular attachment will rotate automatically; ensure even tension and that stitches are knitting off properly.
- Check your work every 5-10 rows for dropped stitches or tension issues.

**RC 021**: Brim measures approximately 3" (7.6 cm). **[Math check: 21 rows ÷ 7 rows/in = 3"]**

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### TRANSITION SECTION (COLORS A + B TOGETHER)

**RC 021**: 
- Thread both Color A AND Color B through the yarn mast together, treating them as one strand.
- You may need to reduce tension to **T5-6** to compensate for the double strand thickness. Test on a few stitches first.

**Rows 22-28** (RC 022-028):
- Knit with both yarns held together for blended/marled effect.
- Maintain consistent tension; use hanging weights if fabric becomes heavy.

**RC 028**: Transition zone complete, measures approximately 1". **[Math check: 7 rows ÷ 7 rows/in = 1"]**

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### BODY SECTION (COLOR B ONLY)

**RC 028**:
- Remove Color A from yarn mast.
- Continue with Color B only.
- Return tension to **T6** (if you adjusted down during transition).

**Rows 29-56** (RC 029-056):
- Knit in Color B at **T6**.
- Check work periodically for even knitting.

**RC 056**: Body section complete. Hat measures approximately 8" from cast-on edge before crown shaping. **[Math check: 56 rows ÷ 7 rows/in = 8"]**

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### CROWN SHAPING (DECREASES)

Crown shaping is accomplished by transferring stitches to adjacent needles and bringing empty needles out of work. Work decreases evenly spaced around the hat.

**Decrease Round 1** (RC 056):
- Working around the circular bed, transfer every 11th stitch to its neighbor (either left or right, maintain consistency).
- This creates: 132 ÷ 11 = 12 decreases.
- **New stitch count: 120 stitches**
- Bring 12 empty needles out of work (to A position or remove from bed per your machine instructions).

**Rows 57-62** (RC 057-062):
- Knit 6 rows even on 120 stitches at **T6**.

**Decrease Round 2** (RC 062):
- Transfer every 10th stitch to its neighbor.
- Decreases: 120 ÷ 10 = 12 decreases.
- **New stitch count: 108 stitches**
- Bring 12 empty needles out of work.

**Rows 63-68** (RC 063-068):
- Knit 6 rows even on 108 stitches.

**Decrease Round 3** (RC 068):
- Transfer every 9th stitch to its neighbor.
- Decreases: 108 ÷ 9 = 12 decreases.
- **New stitch count: 96 stitches**
- Bring 12 empty needles out of work.

**Rows 69-72** (RC 069-072):
- Knit 4 rows even on 96 stitches.

**Decrease Round 4** (RC 072):
- Transfer every 8th stitch to its neighbor.
- Decreases: 96 ÷ 8 = 12 decreases.
- **New stitch count: 84 stitches**
- Bring 12 empty needles out of work.

**Rows 73-76** (RC 073-076):
- Knit 4 rows even on 84 stitches.

**Decrease Round 5** (RC 076):
- Transfer every 7th stitch to its neighbor.
- Decreases: 84 ÷ 7 = 12 decreases.
- **New stitch count: 72 stitches**
- Bring 12 empty needles out of work.

**Rows 77-79** (RC 077-079):
- Knit 3 rows even on 72 stitches.

**Decrease Round 6** (RC 079):
- Transfer every 6th stitch to its neighbor.
- Decreases: 72 ÷ 6 = 12 decreases.
- **New stitch count: 60 stitches**
- Bring 12 empty needles out of work.

**Rows 80-81** (RC 080-081):
- Knit 2 rows even on 60 stitches.

**Decrease Round 7** (RC 081):
- Transfer every 5th stitch to its neighbor.
- Decreases: 60 ÷ 5 = 12 decreases.
- **New stitch count: 48 stitches**
- Bring 12 empty needles out of work.

**Row 82** (RC 082):
- Knit 1 row even on 48 stitches.

**Decrease Round 8** (RC 082):
- Transfer every 4th stitch to its neighbor.
- Decreases: 48 ÷ 4 = 12 decreases.
- **New stitch count: 36 stitches**
- Bring 12 empty needles out of work.

**Decrease Round 9** (RC 082):
- Transfer every 3rd stitch to its neighbor.
- Decreases: 36 ÷ 3 = 12 decreases.
- **New stitch count: 24 stitches**
- Bring 12 empty needles out of work.

**Final Decrease** (RC 082):
- Transfer every other stitch to its neighbor around.
- Decreases: 24 ÷ 2 = 12 decreases.
- **Final stitch count: 12 stitches**

**RC 082**: Crown shaping complete with 12 stitches remaining.

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### FINISHING

1. **Closing the Crown**:
   - Cut yarn, leaving a 20" (51 cm) tail.
   - Thread tail through tapestry needle.
   - Carefully remove remaining 12 stitches from needles, threading tapestry needle through each live stitch.
   - Pull tail tight to cinch crown closed.
   - Weave tail to wrong side and secure with several small stitches.

2. **Removing Waste Yarn**:
   - At brim edge, carefully remove ravel cord and unravel waste yarn rows.
   - As live stitches are revealed, place on spare needles or leave relaxed.
   - If desired, fold hem to wrong side and tack down with tapestry needle, or leave as rolled edge (stockinette will naturally roll slightly).

3. **Weaving in Ends**:
   - Weave in all yarn tails on wrong side using tapestry needle.
   - At color transitions, weave each color into its matching color section for invisible joins.

4. **Blocking**:
   - Lightly steam hat using steam iron held 1-2" above fabric (do not press directly on wool).
   - Alternatively, wet block by soaking in cool water with wool wash, gently squeezing out excess water (do not wring), and shaping over a round form (bowl, balloon, hat block) to dry.
   - Allow to dry completely before wearing.

5. **Final Check**:
   - Try on hat and check fit. Bucket hat should sit comfortably at eye level with slight negative ease around circumference.
   - Steam any areas that need adjustment.

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## DESIGN VARIATIONS

- **Adjusting Depth**: Add or subtract rows between decrease rounds to make hat taller or shorter.
- **Wider Brim**: Work additional rows before RC 021 for a deeper, more dramatic bucket brim.
- **Different Transition**: Try alternating 2 rows Color A, 2 rows Color B for striped transition instead of blended.
- **Color Blocking**: Omit transition section entirely for sharp color change at 3" mark.

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## TROUBLESHOOTING

**Hat too tight**: Increase tension dial by 1 number or add 6-12 more needles to cast-on.

**Hat too loose**: Decrease tension dial by 1 number or cast on with 6-12 fewer needles.

**Uneven tension in transition section**: Check that both yarns are feeding smoothly through mast; consider using a yarn brake or adding weight.

**Crown decreases creating holes**: Ensure transferred stitches are fully seated on receiving needles; you can knit an extra row between decreases to tighten fabric.

**Circular attachment jamming**: Check for debris, ensure needles are properly lubricated, and verify stitches are knitting off cleanly each rotation.

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## YARN REQUIREMENTS DETAIL

**Color A** (Brim + Transition):
- Brim: 132 sts × 21 rows = 2,772 stitches
- Transition (half contribution): 132 sts × 7 rows ÷ 2 =