About

Cost: $ $ $ $ $

Difficulty: • • • • •

Time: 5h00

Crackin' skulls and takin' names!
The majority of this hat is worked back and forth in rows, alternating sections on each side of the hat. However, a circular needle is most convenient as the cable will hold the live stitches on the opposite side until you are ready to switch sides again.

For single color version, work with MC throughout. For two-color version, alternate colors for the sections, cutting the old color and joining the new color

SIZE
Infant[Child, Adult Small, Adult Large]
XS[S, M, L]

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS
Circumference: 9.25[11.5, 13.75, 16] inches, unstretched
To fit head circumferences: 10-14[14-17, 17-21, 21-24] inches

GAUGE
21 sts/30 rows = 4 inches in stockinette stitch

PATTERN NOTES
Instructions for Judy’s magic cast on can be found here:
http://knitty.com/ISSUEspring06/FEATmagiccaston.html

Instructions for tubular bind off can be found here:
http://www.knittinghelp.com/video/play/tubular-bind-off

SPECIAL STITCHES
Pu&k [pick up and knit]: with left-hand needle and wrong side facing, pick up stitches by lifting the first purl bump next to the selvage edge on each row, then knit these stitches.

SSP: slip next two stitches as if to knit, return to left-hand needle without twisting them, and purl together through back loop.

M1: use the backwards loop make 1: make a backwards (e-wrap) loop and place it on the right needle.

Posted by Carissa B. from Dallas, Texas, United States • Published 6th June 2014 • See Carissa B.'s 15 projects »

Print • Embed

Tasha B. favorited Skullcracker 02 Jan 10:02
sophie R. favorited Skullcracker 24 Sep 20:02
Cheryl H. favorited Skullcracker 22 Aug 01:59
happyliltoaster favorited Skullcracker 05 Aug 01:35
srslyjc favorited Skullcracker 19 Jul 20:31
Belle W. favorited Skullcracker 02 Jul 12:59
sprouseam favorited Skullcracker 09 Jun 01:32
Carissa B. published her project Skullcracker 26 Apr 02:34

Step 1
SECTION A
Using Judy's Magic Cast On method CO 16[20, 24, 28] sts, (8[10, 12, 14] per needle).
You'll work back and forth on half the stitches at a time.

Row 1 [RS]: K8[10, 12, 14], turn.
Row 2 [WS]: Sl1, m1, p to last st, m1, p1, turn. 10[12, 14, 16] sts on this side.
Row 3 [RS]: Sl1, m1, k to last st, m1, k1, turn. 2 sts increased.
Row 4 [WS]: Sl1, m1, p to last st m1, p1, turn. 2 sts increased.
Rep Rows 3-4 until there are 16[20, 24, 28] sts on this side, ending after Row 3[4, 3, 4].

Infant & Teen/Adult Small Only:
Next Row [WS]: Sl1, p to end.
Last Row [RS]: Sl1, k to end.

Child & Adult Large Only:
Last Row [RS]: Sl1, k to end.
Step 2
SECTION B
Rotate to begin working on other side of hat, with RS facing.
Row 1 [RS]: Pu&k 4[5, 6, 7] along selvage edge, k8[10, 12, 14] from other side of magic cast on, pu&k4[5, 6, 7] along other selvage edge, turn to work WS. 16[20, 24, 28] sts
Row 2 [WS]: Sl1, p to end.
Row 3 [RS]: Sl1, k to end.
Rep Rows 2-3 3[4, 5, 6] times more.
Step 3
SECTION C
Rotate to work other side.
Row 1 [RS]: Pu&k 4[5, 6, 7] along selvage edge, k16[20, 24, 28], pu&k 4[5, 6, 7] from other selvage edge. 24[30, 36, 42] sts
Row 2 [WS]: Sl1, p to end.
Row 3 [RS]: Sl1, k to end.
Rep Rows 2-3 3[4, 5, 6] times more.
Step 4
Section D
Rotate to work other side.
Rep Section C.
Step 5
SECTION E
Rotate to work other side.
Row 1 [RS]: Pu&k 4[5, 6, 7] along selvage edge, k24[30, 36, 42], pu&k 4[5, 6, 7] from other selvage edge. 32[40, 48, 56] sts
Row 2 [WS]: Sl1, p to end.
Row 3 [RS]: Sl1, k to end.
Rep Rows 2-3 3[4, 5, 6] times more.
Step 6
SECTION F
Rotate to work other side.
Row 1 [RS]: Pu&k 4[5, 6, 7] along selvage edge, k12[15, 18, 21], k2tog, pm, k10[13, 16, 19], pu&k4[5, 6, 7]. 31[39, 47, 55] sts
Row 2 [WS]: Sl1, p to m, p2tog, p to last 2 sts, w&t. 30[38, 46, 54] sts
Row 3 [RS]: K to 2 sts before m, k2tog, k to last 2 sts, w&t. 29[37, 45, 53] sts
Row 4 [WS]: P to m, p2tog, p to 2 sts before previous wrap, w&t. 28[36, 44, 52] sts

Child, Teen/Adult Small, and Adult Large Only:
Row 5 [RS]: K to 2 sts before m, k2tog, k to 2 sts before previous wrap, w&t. [35, 43, 51] sts.

Teen/Adult Small and Adult Large Only:
Row 6 [WS]: P to m, p2tog, p to 2 sts before previous wrap, w&t. -[-, 42, 50] sts.

Adult Large Only:
Row 7 [RS]: K to 2 sts before m, k2tog, k to 2 sts before previous wrap, w&t. -[-, -, 49] sts.

Infant and Teen/Adult Small Only:
Row 5[-, 7, -] [RS]: K to 2 sts before m, ssk, move m so it is before ssk just worked, k to 2 sts before previous wrap, w&t.

Row 6[-, 8, -] [WS]: P to 2 sts before m, ssp, p to 2 sts before previous wrap, w&t.

Child and Adult Large Only:
Row -[6, -, 8] [WS]: P to m, ssp, move m so it is after ssp just worked, p to 2 sts before previous wrap, w&t.

All Sizes:
Row 7[7, 9, 9] [RS]: K to m, ssk, k to 2 sts before previous wrap, w&t.
Row 8[8, 10, 10] [WS]: P to 2 sts before m, ssp, p to 2 sts before previous wrap, w&t. 24[32, 38, 46] sts.
Rep these two rows 0[1, 1, 2] more times. 24[30, 36, 42] sts.
With RS facing, there should now be 3[4, 5, 6] wrapped sts on the left, each with a corresponding k st; 4[5, 6, 7] wrapped sts on the right with corresponding k sts; and 10[12, 14, 16] k sts in between.
Last Row [RS]: K to first wrapped st, removing marker, *k next st tog with wrap, k1; rep from * to end.
Step 7
SECTION G
Rotate to work other side.
Row 1 [RS]: K16[20, 24, 28], k2tog, pm, k12[16, 20, 24], w&t. 31[39, 47, 53] sts.
Row 2 [WS]: P to m, p2tog, p to last 2 sts, w&t.
Rep Row 3 through Last Row of Section F.
Prior to Last Row, there should be 4[5, 6, 7] wraps on the left with corresponding k sts; 4[5, 6, 7] wraps on the right with corresponding k sts; and 8[10, 12, 14] sts in between. Total sts on this side should be 24[30, 36, 42].
Step 8
EDGING
Setup Round: K around entire hat, working wrapped sts tog with wraps. 48[60, 72, 84] sts.
Ribbing round: [K1, p1] around.
Work ribbing as set for 8[10, 12, 14] rounds.
BO all sts, using tubular bind off, or stretchy bind off method of your choice.
Step 9
FINISHING
Weave in ends and block