Brim or Bill

Julia asked me to discuss my new hat pattern. The official beginning of this specific hat came from a fellow Wild Purls customer. She brought in a picture and asked for me to design something similar. I always wanted to figure out how to put a brim (or *bill) on a knit hat but keep it 100% knitted, so I looked forward to the challenge.

Because I love the clean look of knitted hems, I followed that same thought for the brim. Knit on smaller needles than most of the hat, it is a firmer fabric. After the purl turning row, I used a three needle bind-off to join it to the rest of the hat.

Another one of my favorite features of the hat is the turning ridges at the base. Again, I love the clean look of purl turning rows and simply knit two of them for almost a “square” edge at the bottom.

If, however, you are not as in love with the turning rows as I am, feel free to simply knit with two strands (as one of my test knitters pointed out) for 2 inches and then finish the hat with a single strand as written in the pattern.

Julia mentioned some have asked about the possibility of a class. I counted 19 pictures (and over 20 if you include the cover pictures) in the 14 page pattern to help with each step from the provisional cast on, placement of yarn when changing colors, the three needle bind-off, and every phase of the brim. Please browse the whole pattern next time you are at Wild Purls and I hope the hat won’t be nearly as intimidating once you see each step-by-step picture.

Thank you if you have already purchased the pattern. Even after seven test knitters and myself knitting 4 of these hats, I found an error on page 6. The pattern is written “Work both colors for 2 inches in k2, p2 ribbing.” It should read, “Work both colors for 2 inches in k1, p1 ribbing.” All new patterns will have this revision. Please email me at dkhaese2000@yahoo.com and I would be happy to snail mail you a revised copy if you are one that has already purchased the pattern.

*I used “brim” to describe it, though, after looking in the dictionary, “bill” seemed similarly appropriate.
Brim: the projecting rim of a hat.
Bill: the visor of a cap or hood. Your thoughts?