And Here's the Pattern

I've had several volunteers to do a test knit for this hat on ravelry, but forgot that I can't create a PDF at home.  so as a stop-gap, I'm putting the pattern here so I can get it published quickly.  Once I get some feedback, I'll do it up right and put it into a PDF.

The Santa Bang-y Hat

Materials:

Worsted Weight Yarn in Red (MC) (80 grams) and White (CC) (approx 10 grams)

(I used two skeins of Berroco Pure Merino in Cardinal and some leftover white lion brand)

Gauge: 20 stitches / 28 rows = 4" (in stockinette)

Size 7 needles:  1 set 16” circular and 1 set dpn

Stitch markers, cable needle

Abbreviations:

M1, I used the slanted increase to do my M1, but you can use the one you like best

C4L - put 4 stitches on cable needle, hold to front of work, knit next 4 stitches, then 4 stitches from cable needle

C4R - put 4 stitches on cable needle, hold to back of work, knit next 4 stitches, then work 4 stitches from cable needle

With Circular needle and CC yarn, Cast on 96 stitches and (place maker for end of round) join to knit in the round.

Work K1, P1 ribbing for 10 rounds

Join MC and work 1 round as follows:

*K6, M1 repeat from * around (16 stitches increased - 112 stitches) (corrected 12/21)

Round 2: *K4, P2, (place marker) K8, P2, K24, P2 (place marker) K8, P2, K4 place marker; repeat from *

Repeat round 2 twice

Cable Round:

*K4, P2, slip marker C4L , p2, k24, p2, slip marker, C4R, P2, K4 slip marker; repeat from *

Cable round is now round 1 for counting

Round 2-7: Round 2: *K4, P2, (slip marker) K8, P2, K24, P2 (slip marker) K8, P2, K4 slip marker; repeat from *

Repeat cable pattern (rounds 1-7) 5 more times (total of 6 cable crosses) (corrected 1/4/2010)

Top Point Shaping:

Work 36 stitches in established pattern (including cables) place the last 16 stitches worked onto a stitch holder; switch to dpns and continue working the next 40 stitches (in pattern) onto 3 dpns (distribute so the cable stitches are together on the same needle).

Join stitches on dpns to work in the round (the rest of the stitches will hang out on the circular and wait for you to get back to them, but you can put them all on stitch holders if it’s easier for you). (edited 1/20/2010)

Now the fun begins, you will be starting on round 2 of 7 

The decreases for the tip shaping will be worked on rounds 2 and 7 as follows:

(Round 1: Cable round - already worked)

Round 2: K2tog, K2, P2, K8, P2, K2, SSK, K2tog, K2, P2, K8, P2, K2, K2tog (4 stitches decreased)

Rounds 3-6: work in established pattern

Round 7: K3, P2, K2, K2tog, SSK, K2, P2, K6, P2, K2, K2tog, SSK, K2, P2, K3 (4 more stitches decreased)

Round 8: K3, P2, C3R, P2, K6, P2, C3L, P2, K3

Round 9: K2tog, K1, P2, K6, P2, K1, SSK, K2tog, K1, P2, K6, P2, K1, K2tog

Round 10-13: work in established pattern

Round 14: K2, P2, K1, K2tog, SSK, K1, P2, K4, P2, K1, K2tog, SSK, K1, P2, K2

Round 15: K2, P2, C2R, P2, K4, P2, C2L, P2, K2

Round 16: K2tog, P2, K4, P2, K2tog, SSK, P2, K4, P2, K2tog

Round 17-20 work in established pattern

Round 21: K1, P2, K4, P2, K2, P2, K4, P2, K1 (no decreases)

Round 22: K1, P2, C2R, P2, K2, P2, C2L, P2, K1

Round 23: K1, P2tog, K4, P2tog, K2, P2tog, K4, P2tog, K1

Round 24 K2tog around

Cut thread and pull through remaining stitches

Now, picking up where you left off to start the first point, join a new yarn( leave a really long tail for working up at the end); with the circular needle K16 (move these stitches to a holder), work the next 40 stitches in round 1 of the cable pattern while putting them onto 3 dpns (as above). You will now have (in sequence) 16 unworked stitches (on holder), 40 working stitches and 16 unworked stitches (on holder)  repeat rounds 2-24 above reversing the CR / CL to match previously established cable sequence. 

Cut yarn and pull thru point

You should have two sets of 16 stitches each left on the stitch holders …put these back on the needles

If you are comfortable with grafting….using the tail you made when you joined the yarn before, begin by closing the hole between the point and the live stitches (duplicate stitch or pick up two stitches) work Kitchener stitch across the 32 live stitches and use the tail to close the hole on the other side. (edited 1/20/2010)

Or for the grafting averse…. Turn inside out and do a 3 needle bind off then close up holes on either side where points meet top of hat.

Finishing: weave in loose ends, make two pom-poms with CC yarn and attach to ends of points.

thanks to Stefanie for test knitting and editing help!