This free pattern originally published in the Botany College Hand Knits, Volume II, in 1958.
MATERIALS: BOTANY CLASSIC SPORT, 1 oz. skeins,
Color A - 1 skein Color B - 1 skein
KNITTING NEEDLES: 1 pair "Boye" Non-Inflammable Needles, Size 5-0R SIZE YOU REQUIRE TO KNIT TO GAUGE GIVEN BELOW.
GAUGE: 21 sts = 2 inches 8 rows = 1 inch
With A, cast on 7 sts.
Row 1 - wrong side - P 1, * k 1, p 1; repeat from * to end.
Row 2 - K 1, * p 1, k 1; repeat from * to end.
Repeat last 2 rows until 10 ins. from beg. for tie string, end with row 1. Entire cap is made in ribbing.
First inc. row - Inc. 1 st in each of the first 3 sts (inc. as to k), place a marker on needle, inc. 1 st in each of next 3 sts, k 1; 13 sts.
Next row - Same as row 1, carry marker.
2nd inc. row - Work ribbing as on row 2 to within 1 st of marker, inc. 1 st (as to p) in next st, slip marker, inc. 1 st (as to k) in next st, work p 1, k 1 ribbing to end; 15 sts.
Next row - Work same as row 1 to within 2 sts of marker, p 2, slip marker, p 1, work k 1, p 1 ribbing to end. Carry up marker by slipping it from left to right needle on every row.
3rd inc. row - Same as row 2 to within 1 st of marker, inc. 1 st (as to k) in next st, slip marker, inc. 1 st (as to k) in next st, work k 1, p 1 ribbing, end k 1; 17 sts.
Repeat last 4 rows 4 times, 20 rows above first inc. row; 33 sts. Break A. Join B.
First Stripe - With B, repeat last 20 rows once; 53 sts. Break B. This completes inc. rows. Join A.
Second Stripe - With A, work even in ribbing for 20 rows. Break A.
Center Stripe - Row 1 - wrong side - With B, work 1 row even in ribbing.
Row 2 - Short rows - Work ribbing to within 7 sts of end, turn.
Row 3 - Slip first st as to k, work ribbing to end.
Note: To prevent a hole always work slipped st tog. with st directly below.
Row 4 - Work ribbing to within 13 sts of end, turn.
Row 5 - Slip 1 st, work ribbing to end.
Row 6 - Work ribbing to within 19 sts of end, turn.
Row 7 - Slip 1 st, work ribbing to end.
Row 8 - Work ribbing to within 25 sts of end, turn.
Row 9 - Slip 1 st, work ribbing to end.
Rows 10 and 11 - Work even in ribbing.
Row 12 - Same as row 8.
Row 13 - Same as row 7.
Row 14 - Same as row 6.
Row 15 - Same as row 5.
Row 16 - Same as row 4.
Row 17 - Same as row 3.
Row 18 - Same as row 2.
Row 19 - Same as row 3.
Row 20 - Work even in ribbing. Break B.
With A, work even in ribbing for 20 rows, end with row 2 of rib pat. Break A.
With B, work 1 row even in ribbing - wrong side.
First dec. row - Work ribbing to within 2 sts of marker, slip, k and pass, slip marker, slip, k and pass, work ribbing to end; 51 sts.
Next row - Work to within 2 sts of marker, p 2, slip marker, p 1, work to end.
2nd dec. row - Work ribbing to within 2 sts of marker, p 2 tog., slip marker, slip, k and pass, work ribbing to end; 49 sts.
Next row - Work even in ribbing. Repeat last 4 rows 4 times, 20 rows; 33 sts. Break A.
With B, repeat last 20 rows once; 13 sts. Work 1 row even in ribbing.
Final dec. row - K 1, * k 2 tog., repeat from * 5 times; 7 sts.
Next row - Work same as row 1 of rib pat. Work even in ribbing until tie-string is same length as first tie-string. Bind off in ribbing.
FINISHING - Sew in all ends neatly matching stripes. Fold at center and block stretching to 7 ins. wide at center back. Block.
Other great knit patterns from Botany College Hand Knits.