A New Hat with which I'm Well Pleased

I thought I'd post my hat pattern for those who might be looking for something extra easy that still looks nice. I'll get the photo up eventually. I haven't worn this hat out yet, but I did prance about my place looking into several mirrors and was well pleased.

My gauge was about 5-6 stitches per inch on size 3s. I was using Knitpicks Coast Grey Swish Superwash and some novelty yarn that actually feels really soft and nice. "Novelty fur with a glitz like sheen" from Cherry Tree Hill in silver. I cast on 80 stitches for a head that's about 22 inches around. I did manage to measure my big head's diameter before I started, just not the big head height.

For the brim I knit in the round for two inches. I highly recommend using a safety pin when you go to join. Then I knit the loose end into the brim so I wouldn't have to deal with weaving it in later. This worked out very well. I would recommend putting a stitch marker in where you join so that you'll know when to start decreasing. You can also feel where you started if you knit your loose end into the brim because it leaves a few stitches a little bit thicker than the rest. I liked the purl side of my hat on this novelty yarn better than the knit side, so I kept that as the "right side" of the hat. That meant that I was purling for the rest of the project. If that sends chills down your spine, you could pearl the two inches of the brim instead. Or maybe you like how the knit looks better. I don't know. I value the art of improvisation.

Then I purled in the gray yarn for five inches. Altogether from brim to the beginning of the decreases, I had a seven inch hat. This was my approximate head height. I don't know what the average woman's head size is. I would say I have a pretty big head. I tried my hat on a couple of times. Sometimes the stitches would go flying off the circulars so maybe use a big circular.

To decrease I p2tog to end up with 40 stitches. Then I purled a row.
Then I p2tog to end up with 20 stitches and purled a row. At this point you might need to switch over to two circulars. I didn't have another three so I used a two and I personally can't see the difference.
Then I p2tog to end up with 10 stitches and purled a row.
Then I p2tog to end up with 5 stitches and I closed the hat by threading the yarn through this five stitches and weaving in the end.

Voila! A hat! A quick and easy hat.