Obsessed with Hats (Part 1)

So I never understood how to make a hat before. Lucky for me, my knitting guru-friend Amy was able to teach me this weekend. And now I'm completely obsessed! Somehow knitting in the round makes it even harder to stop because you can just keep going and going and going... In two days I've made two hats, and after doing the first, the second seemed much easier.

Erich's Monkees Hat


Remember that guy in the Monkees that never took off his green beanie hat? Well, ever since I made this hat for Erich it's been like that. I know it's getting to be a joke (last night he slept in it!) but it sure looks cute on him!

For this hat I used US 10 circular needles and some Lion Organic Cotton yarn. I would have liked something other than cotton, but this is all I had around and it doesn't get that cold in San Diego anyway.

Cast on 72 stitches and knit in the round.
Knit a rib, K2 P2 until the work is approx 2".
Row 1: knit 31 sts, P2, and then slip 3 sts onto a cable needle. Knit the next 3 sts and then K3 off the cable needle. P2 and then K31.
Row 2-3: knit 31 sts, P2, K6, P2 and then K31

Repeat this pattern until the desired length (about 6-7") and then start decreasing:
Knit one row while you’re decreasing every third stitch = about 56 stitches left.
Knit two rounds.
Start the round by knitting two stitches together. K 10, 2 stitches together, knit until you’re 10 stitches past the cable diagram, knit 2 stitches together.
Continue to decrease in the same spot 10 times in total (10 rounds).
Cut the yarn and pull a needle through the rest of the stitches. Tighten!

This pattern is based on a pattern I saw online here.