Inspiration: My husband is a runner, and likes to wear hats. He is also a fan of Reggae music, so these colors were perfect. The real secret is what fun it was to knit these yarns together!
The hat is deliberately styled to have a longer cast on to crown shape to cover the ears.

Materials:
2 - 50 gr balls  Crystal Palace Panda Cotton, 1 ea. in #9598 Jet Black (A) and #9666 Reggae (B)
Needles: CPY Bamboo 16" circular needle & Double Point (dpn) set in size US 5 (3.75 mm), or size required for gauge.

Gauge: 6.5 sts per inch (26sts/10 cm) over St st.

Size: Adult Medium/Large (20-22.5 in. head circumference) The Panda Cotton gives it elasticity to fit a range of head sizes.

Abbreviations:
CO- cast on; K- Knit; k2tog - knit 2 sts together; P- Purl; rep - repeat; St st - stockinette stitch; rnd(s) - round(s); st(s)- stitch(es); tog - together

Instructions
Using circular needle, and Color A (black) CO 136 sts. Do not join into rnd. P1 row; join being careful not to twist. Place marker.
Ribbing: Work in K2-P2 rib for 8 rounds. Cut and join Color B (reggae). Work in K2-P2 rib for 8 rounds. Rejoin A and work in ribbing for 5 rounds; switch to B and work in ribbing for 5 rounds.
Knit remainder of hat in St st, carrying colors along at each round change.
Band 1: Knit 3 rounds A and 3 rounds B.
Band 2: Knit 2 rnds A and 2 rnds B.
Band 3: One round A; One round B; One round A; One round B.
Band 4: Work 2 rounds A and 2 rounds B.
Band 5: Work 3 rounds A and 3 rounds B.
Band 6: Work 5 rounds A and 5 rounds B.
At this point, the hat is ~6 in. from cast on.

Begin hat shaping.
Crown Decrease pattern: The decreases are worked quickly, with use of both colors to form Mandala-type crown pattern.
Dec Rnd 1: Knit 1 round with A. Now with A *(K6, k2tog)*, repeat around. Now work 1 round alternating K1A, K1B.
Dec Rnd 2: With A *(k5, k2tog)*, repeat around. Work 1 rnd alternating K1A, K1B.
Dec Rnd 3: With B *(K4, k2tog)*, repeat around. Work 1 rnd alternating K1A, K1B.
Dec Rnd 4: With A *(K3, k2tog)*, repeat around. Work 1 rnd alternating K1A, K1B.
Dec Rnd 5: With A *(K2, k2tog)*, repeat around. Work 1 rnd alternating K1A, K1B.
Dec Rnd 6: With B *(K1, K2tog)*, repeat around. Work 1 rnd alternating K1A, K1B.
Dec Rnd 7: With A *(K2tog)*, repeat around. Work 1 rnd alternating K1A, K1B.
Now, alternating A & B, continue to K2tog until only ~8 st left.
Cut both yarn ends, leaving about 8 in. With a crochet hook, pull yarn (using black only) through each st and drop off needle. Snug firmly. Pull both yarn ends tautly and either knot and leave hanging as ornament, or move to inside and tuck in ends.

Finishing: work in all ends diagonally up 2-3 st and down 2-3 st to lock in firmly.
Work in end from CO.

Retail shops in the USA should contact CPY Wholesale for information on purchasing Crystal Palace Yarns
and email cpyinfo -at- straw.com (replace the -at- with @)

or write to:
Crystal Palace Yarns, 160 23rd St., Richmond, CA 94804
phone: 510-237-9988,  fax: 510-237-9809