Mushroom Magic hat

Ah, the innocent days of the early 1950s, when you could use the phrase Mushroom Magic without hearing hippy sniggering from the back of the class.

This perky little hat is knitted from dk yarn with an angora crown. What better way to keep off the chill on a spring morning?

To make a magical mushroom hat, you will need half an ounce of angora wool, 2 oz double knitting yarn, two no 9 and no 11 needles.

Tension: 5 and three-quarter stitches and seven and three-quarter rows to one square inch on no 9 needles measured over stocking stitch.


Using no 9 needles and double knitting yarn, cast on 110 sts. Work in K1, P1 rib for 7 inches.

Change to no 11 needles and using angora for remainder of hat proceed as follows:

Next row: K5,(M1, K2, M1, K3) 20 times, M1, K5 (151 sts)

Next row: P

Work crown as follows:

1st row: K

2nd row: P

Work these 2 rows 6 times more.

Shape crown as follows:

1st row: *K13, K2 tog, rep from * to last st, K1

2nd and alt rows: P

3rd row: *K12, K2 tog, rep from * to last st, K1

5th row: *K11, K2 tog, rep from * to last st, K1

6th row: P

Continue dec in this manner on next and every alt row until 21 sts remain.

Next row: P1, (P2 tog) 10 times.

Thread yarn through remaining sts and fasten off securely.

To make up, use a back stitch to join seam, taking care to reverse seam for turn-back.