Zissou

This pattern was designed for my husband, who asked for a bright red toque after watching The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissouon a flight to Scotland. Made of springy superwash merino wool, the toque is quite long so it can be rolled up and worn like a watch cap, or pulled down to keep the ears warm in a cold wind. It would be more subtle in a darker colour like black or olive, but then the homage to Jacques Cousteau would be lost.

Materials

  • Approximately 225 yd / 200m DK weight merino wool (shown in Online Linie Marly in Bold Red)
  • a 16″ 4.5mm (US7) circular needle* and 1 set 4.5mm DPN  [*You can start on a circular needle if you like, but you’ll need to switch to DPN once you start decreasing]
  • 8 stitch markers

Gauge: 18 st=4″/10 cm in 1×1 rib. To measure gauge, stretch your swatch until the knit and purl ribs look evenly spaced (take a 2″ unstretched section and stretch it out to 3″). This stitch pattern is really stretchy anyway–if your gauges is not exact, it probably won’t make a huge difference.

Instructions

CO 112 st and join to work in the round.  Place marker to indicate beginning of round. Work 1×1 rib (knit 1, purl 1 to end) for 7.5″ / 20cm.

Decrease for crown:

Place a stitch marker after every 14 stitches–you should have 8 markers.

Next round, work in pattern to 2 stitches before each marker. K2Tog, slip marker and continue in this manner to end.

Work one round even, in rib pattern.

Continue alternating one decrease round with one even round until you have 8 stitches remaining on your needles.

Break yarn, leaving a 4 inch / 10 cm tail. Thread yarn through a tapestry needle, draw through remaining stitches and pull tight.

Weave in ends.

10 Replies to “Zissou”

  1. Looks fast and easy. I will use regular needles and sew up the back seam. Easier than using double point needles.

  2. I love that your husband appreciates you art, and will ask for the treasures that he knows you can provide. Lucky woman. N

  3. Help – I have tried three times now to knit this hat – the problem is with the decreasing, do you have to mark off 14 stiches on every decrease row ??? because if you do after decreasing one row – the next row you do not have an equal no of 14 stiches… you are left with some over each decreasing row. please advice

    1. Hi Vivienne,
      You need to place 8 markers, one every 14 sts. After you decrease, there will be 13 sts between each marker. The next time you decrease there will be 12 sts between markers, etc, etc.
      I hope that makes sense.

  4. Thank you for this pattern. I’ve lost the beanie pattern that my sons love. This is very close to the one they love. Starting this beanie as part of a Christmas gift for my oldest, Dustin. Thanks.

  5. Every row where you don’t decrease,do you k1p1 all around or knit where knit stitches and similarly for purl? Also, when you have an odd number of stitches in each section defined by the markers, do you purl the last two stitches together? Thanks!!

  6. Sorry for the delay in responding. It’s been a really long time since I made this hat, so I had to go and find it and look at it carefully before I could answer your questions.
    First, “Every row where you don’t decrease,do you k1p1 all around or knit where knit stitches and similarly for purl?”: yes–follow the sts as you find them.
    Second, ” when you have an odd number of stitches in each section defined by the markers, do you purl the last two stitches together”: I knit 2 together every round, which gives the star pattern on the top, but you could try it the other way if you prefer. The crown will look different, but maybe you will like it better that way.

  7. For the 14th time my husband just finished a viewing of Zissou. He doesn’t really like handknitted items, but this he requested. Thank you for your design!

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