Subtle Stripes Hat

Baby Landon is finally wearing one of his new hand-knit hats! I especially love how soft this hat is and the barely there tone-on-tone stripe pattern. The key is to pick two colors that are hardly different from each other, whether it's this ivory combination or shades of gray would be great too. This hat knits up quickly and I was happy to learn a new ribbing edge and also practice the technique that prevents the stripes from jogging at the seam.

Pattern is for a small newborn size, but you can increase the size by using a thicker yarn with larger needles or increasing stitches by a multiple of 6. I used the Debbie Bliss baby cashmerino yarn with US 5 needles (since I am a tight knitter).

CO 60 sts on US #5 with Color 1
Join in the round, careful not to twist the stitches.

Start with Twin Rib:
Multiple of 6
Row 1: *k3, p3*
Row 2: *k1, p1*
Continue in this pattern for 10 rows or about 1.25"

Now to start the stripe pattern making sure to click here and use this technique as you knit around.

Pattern:
Color 2:
Row 1 +2: K all
Color 1:
Row 3, 4 + 5: K all

Once the hat is approximately 4.5" from cast-on edge, start to decrease while continuing the stripe pattern:
Row 1: *K10, K2TOG* (55 sts)
Row 2: K all
Row 3: *K9, K2TOG* (50 sts)
Row 4: K all
Row 5: *K8, K2TOG* (45 sts)
Row 6: K all
Row 7: *K7, K2TOG* (40 sts)
Row 8: K all
Row 9: *K6, K2TOG* (35 sts)
Row 10: K all
Row 11: *K5, K2TOG* (30 sts)
Row 12: K all
Row 13: *K4, K2TOG* (25 sts)
Row 14: K all
Row 15: *K3, K2TOG* (20 sts)
Row 16: *K2, K2TOG* (15 sts)
Row 17: *K1, K2TOG* (10 sts)

Pull yarn through remaining stitches and pull tight. Cut yarn and weave in all ends.