When I first started knitting I was more inclined to make up my own patterns. Sometimes they worked out, other times not so much. I was more adventurous in a way, less focused on proficiency and more on experimentation. I had completely forgotten about an early hat I made for my brother, but when I saw him over the Christmas holidays he told me he still wears it. Since I can barely remember making the hat, I figured it was high time to replace it. Or at least add to his collection!

I decided on Jared Flood’s Turn a Square – a toque with raglan decreases and subtle striping. I used Mission Falls 1824 Wool and Noro Silk Garden. The hat takes less than a ball of each, so it could be a great project to use up some of your yarn leftovers.

Here are some other man-friendly patterns I came across in my search for my brother’s birthday hat:

Windschief (Ravelry link) by Stephen West

Golden Autumn (Ravelry link) by Lucy Sweetland

Koolhaas by Jared Flood

Seaman’s Cap by Brenda Zuk

Thorpe (Ravelry link) by Kirsten Kapur

[Ravelled]