Althea Hat... Done

Yes... I did it!

It's a little less huge than the Athena Hat but I like that a lot. I don't have the hair to pull off the total shapelessness of her's anyway.

It's a great, big, slouchy, won't-mess-up-your-hair-too-much, really warm, easy hat and I lovelovelove it. Malabrigo Worsted in Black Forest, doubled to make it nice and chunky, size 13 needles.

There's a discussion topic on Ravelry.com about the original and I found out that the criss-cross designs in the sections between the cables are called Tuck Stitches and they're almost always done with knitting machines. Thanks staceyjoy! Between her description of how to do them and this video showing how to rig them manually on a knitting machine, I was able to do the tuck stitches but they actually don't really show up that much in the finished product. I'm writing out my pattern here without them but check out those links if you want to try them for yourself.

Cast on 50, join in the round and K2, P2 rib for 5 rows.
Next row, K around, increasing evenly to 72 stitches.

Begin pattern:
*K8, P1, K2, P1* to end of row.
Repeat for 4 rows
On 5th row, *slip 4 sts to cable needle and hold behind work, K4, K4 from cable needle, P1, K2, P1* around

[Repeat *K8, P1, K2, P1* around for 9 rows

On 10th row, *slip 4 sts to cable needle and hold behind work, K4, K4 from cable needle, P1, K2, P1* around]

Repeat from [ to ] 1 more time and then *K8, P1, K2, P1* around for another 4 rows for a total of 39 rows from the beginning of the pattern.

Decrease begins with:
Row 40: K1, K2tog, K2, K2tog, K1, P1, K2tog, P1
Row 41: K2, K2tog, K2, P1, K1, P1
Row 42: K2tog, K1, K2tog, P1, K1, P1
Row 43: K2tog across
Row 44: K2tog across
There should be 9 stitches left. Cut yarn, leaving a 6″ tail. Thread yarn through a tapestry needle and pull yarn through last 9 stitches. Pull tight. Secure the yarn on the inside of the hat and weave in ends.

Done! Let me know if you have any questions. My pattern writing is still a little wonky...