1- or 2-color Fisherman's Rib Hat - a Knittycat's Knits Tutorial

Video tutorial on how to knit a 1- or 2-color Fisherman's rib hat. Pattern describes a 2-color hat for an adult (hat circumference when worn ~21 in); for 1 color, follow same pattern but just with the 1 color for each row. This is a very stretchy hat and if you wish for snugger fit, then consider casting on stitches at the lower end of range shown below. Additional helpful links are at the end.

Abbreviations: CC=contrasting color; circ=circular; dec=decrease; DPN=double-pointed needles; in=inch; K=knit; K1b=knit into the st below; K2tog=knit 2 stitches together; MC=main color; P=purl; P1b=purl into the st below; rep=repeat; SSK=slip slip knit; st=stitch.

Gauge with US 5 (3.75 mm) needles in 1-color Fisherman’s rib (video on this stitch:    • Fisherman's rib scarf in 1 color: a K...  ): 11 st = ~1.5-2 in depending on the yarns used. The finished hats shown in video were knit with yarns such as LionBrand Mandala [cast on 84 or 96 sts] and KnitPicks Wool of the Andes [cast on 72 sts]. You will need 1 skein of yarn in each color (~4 oz or 120 g each), one 16-inch US 5 circ needle, and 4 DPNs (same size as circ needle). Check gauge and adjust needle size as needed. A finished hat circumference of about 17-18 in will stretch to fit an adult head size of 21 in.

Designate the 2 yarn colors as MC and CC. With CC, cast on either 72, 84, or 96 stitches with the circ needle (I used long-tail cast on). Joining in the round (place a st marker), do a set-up row of K1, P1 with the CC. Then do the following 2 rows (note Row 1 is in MC and Row 2 is in CC):
Row 1 (MC): *K1b, P1. Rep from * until end of row.
Row 2 (CC): *K1, P1b. Rep from * until end of row.

Continue Rows 1 & 2 until hat measures ~ 6.5-7 in from the brim, ending in Row 2. Transfer sts evenly onto 3 DPNs (depending on number of sts cast, divide as follows on each DPN and place st markers at the half-way mark on each DPN to divide the sts on each DPN into 2 sections, for a total of 6 sections): 24 sts on each DPN if 72 sts cast on (marker after 12 sts), 28 sts if 84 sts cast on (marker after 14 sts), and 32 sts if 96 sts cast on (marker after 16 sts)

Then do hat decreases in each of the 6 sections as shown below (sts remaining on each DPN after an actual dec row are shown in brackets for hats with 72 sts/84 sts/96 sts):

Row 1: SSK, *K1b, P1. Rep from * until 2 sts, then K2tog [10/12/14 sts remain in each section]
Row 2: K1, *K1, P1b. Rep from * until last st, then K1 [not a dec row]
Row 3: K1, *K1b, P1. Rep from * until last st, then K1 [not a dec row]
Row 4: K1, *K1, P1b. Rep from * until last st, then K1 [not a dec row]
Row 5: SSK, P1, *K1b, P1. Rep until last 3 sts, then K1b, K2 tog [8/10/12 sts remain in each section]
Row 6: *K1, P1b. Rep until last 2 sts, then K2 [not a dec row]
Row 7: SSK, *K1b, P1. Rep from * until 2 sts, then K2tog [6/8/10 sts remain in each section]
Row 8: K1, *K1, P1b. Rep from * until last st, then K1 [not a dec row]
Row 9: SSK, P1, *K1b, P1. Rep until last 3 sts, then K1b, K2 tog [4/6/8 sts remain in each section]
Row 10: *K1, P1b. Rep until last 2 sts, then K2 [not a dec row]
If you cast on 72 sts for the hat, then jump to Row 17. Otherwise continue on to Row 11:
Row 11: SSK, *K1b, P1. Rep from * until 2 sts, then K2tog [-/4/8 sts remain in each section]
Row 12: K1, *K1, P1b. Rep from * until last st, then K1 [not a dec row]
If you cast on 84 sts for the hat, then jump to Row 17. Otherwise continue on to Row 13:
Row 13: SSK, P1, *K1b, P1. Rep until last 3 sts, then K1b, K2 tog [-/-/6 sts remain in each section]
Row 14: *K1, P1b. Rep until last 2 sts, then K2 [not a dec row]
Row 15: SSK, *K1b, P1. Rep from * until 2 sts, then K2tog [-/-/4 sts remain in each section]
Row 16: K1, *K1, P1b. Rep from * until last st, then K1 [not a dec row]
Row 17: *SSK, K2tog [2/2/2 sts remain in each section]. Remove the st markers in this round.
Row 18: *SSK, K2tog [2/2/2 sts remain on each DPN]

Leave about an 8 in tail on both yarns and cut them. Thread both yarn tails through a tapestry needle and pass them through all 6 sts and pull. Insert the needle through center of top to bring it to the wrong side and then weave yarn tails. Clean-up the yarn tails at the cast on edge (link to video on doing this:    • Cleaning up circular knitted edge: a ...  ) and can add a pompom to the hat, if desired.

Helpful links:
1-color Fisherman's rib (for checking gauge):    • Fisherman's rib scarf in 1 color: a K...  
Cleaning up hat brim edge:    • Cleaning up circular knitted edge: a ...