Knitting with hemp

Hemp is an amazingly versatile fiber and just one of the many uses for it is yarn. It makes for a great hat because it keeps your head warm and it's super strong and durable (perfect for my husband who works outdoors and needs a hat that is rugged). And you can throw it in the washer and dryer--the more you wash it, the more soft and worn in it will become. It doesn't have much elasticity to it though, which is why in this pattern I made a nice wide-ribbed brim.

I bought the yarn on lanaknits.com; they have all sorts of hemp and hemp-blend yarns, patterns, and information about hemp. If you don't know much about hemp, I recommend checking out the site and learning more!


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Hemp Beanie
by: the brown stitch

Supplies:
- Yarn: 3 skeins of hemp for knitting "all hemp6" DK weight from lanaknits.com (I used #015 Marble, #020 Avocado, and #012 Classic)
- Size 3, 18” circular needles (or size needed to obtain gauge)
- Size 3, double-pointed needles (or size needed to obtain gauge)
- small crochet hook & tapestry needle (to weave in ends)

Gauge:
- 5 stitches = 1” on size 3 needles in stockinette stitch

Abbreviations:- CO = cast on
- pm = place marker
- k = knit
- p = purl
- k2tog = knit two stitches together
- stockinette = when knitting in the round, knit all rounds

Size:
Medium (Large)

Directions:
- With color A, CO 90 (100) stitches loosely, pm and join in the round (being careful not to twist stitches)
- *K2,P2; repeat from * to end.
- Repeat this round (slipping marker at the beginning of each round) until the piece measures 4” from CO edge (will be folded over for a 2” brim)
- Continue in stockinette for 4”, switching from color A to color B and C to create stripe pattern as you desire

Begin Decreasing (as with previous stockinette rounds, change colors as you desire to continue stripe pattern. Also, when it becomes too uncomfortable on the circular needles, switch to the double-pointed needles):

- *K7(8), K2tog; repeat from * to end
- K 3 rounds in stockinette
- *K6(7), K2tog; repeat from * to end
- K 3 rounds in stockinette
- *K5(6), K2tog; repeat from * to end
- K 3 rounds in stockinette
- *K4(5), K2tog; repeat from * to end
- K 3 rounds
- *K3(4), K2tog; repeat from * to end
- K 2 rounds
- *K2(3), K2tog; repeat from * to end
- K 1 round
- *K1(2),K2tog; repeat from * to end
- K 1 round
- *K0(1),K2tog
- *K2tog; repeat from * to end
- Cut yarn, pull to close, and weave in loose ends