Victoire cap

So this is the cap I came up with as a variation on the "Victoria Fingerless Mittens" from the Louisa Harding book, "Knitting Little Luxuries." It's a rather loose fitting cloche. I have a 22" head and it's very comfy on me. I will be expermenting on the weekend with version number two, as the friend whose birthday present this was intended to be is a good 4" shorter than me, not to mention smaller boned. I need to come up with something a bit more snug. Anyway, the how to for this version follows...

Materials

Worsted weight yarn. I used 1.5 skeins of Knit Picks Main Line, which is being discontinued. 82 yards per skein. 7 rows = 1 inch.

Knitting needles, #5 circular, and #5 DPNs.

Stitch markers, tapestry needle.

Picot cast on --- *co 5 sts using the cable method on circular needles, bo 2 sts, slip st on right needle back to left needle - 3 sts co; * repeat from * to co 113 stitches.

(N.B. Use stitch markers every 10 stitches as you finish your picots or you will make yourself crazy counting five and three then 113.)

Place marker and join, being careful not to twist stitches.
R1 - k all sts R2 - p all sts R3 - k all sts.

R4- k1* yo ssk; repeat from * to end.

R5 -k all sts R6 - p all sts R7 - k all sts.

Decrease row - k to last 2 sts, k2 tog.

k2 p2 ribbing for 10 rows.

Switch to stockinette stitch. K until 5" long, switch to DPN's, 28 sts on each needle.

Crown shaping

R1 - k9, k2 tog 10 times. 102 stitches. R2 - k

R3 - k8, k2 tog 10 times. 92 stitches. R4 - k

R5 - k7, k2 tog 10 times. 82 stitches. R6 - k

R7 - k6, k2 tog 10 times. 72 stitches. R 8 - k

R9 - k5, k2 tog 10 times. 62 stitches. R 10 - k

R11 - k4, k2 tog 10 times. 52 stitches. R 12 - k

R13 - k3, k2 tog 10 times. 42 stitches. R 14 - k

R15 - k2, k2 tog 10 times, k 1. 31 stitches. R 16 - k

R17 - k 1, k2 tog 10 times, k 1. 21 stitches. R 18 - k

R 19 - k 2 tog 10 times, k 1. 11 stitches.

R 20 - k 2 tog 4 times, k 1, 5 stitches.

Cut yarn off, leaving a 6" tail. Thread through tapestry needle, work through loops and pull tight; knot off. Weave in loose ends.

It went pretty fast, as most caps do. I had fun making it, will have some more fun coming up with the next variation. If you want to decrease, or increase, I would recommend doing so in increments of 4 stitches to ensure the ribbing alternates as it should. Enjoy.