Last summer a friend commissioned me to knit her a slouchy Alaska Flag Hat. It turned out to be a hit and I knit more than 30 of them for various Alaskans. Several asked for a kids or non-slouchy version as we can’t all look as spectacular as Fernanda in a slouchy hat.

I’ve been meaning to rewrite the pattern for months but have been overwhelmed by my floral business. But when a friend of mine texted me her family photo this year, I knew it was time.

I mean, how adorable is this family?

Alaska Flag Hat – non-slouchy version

Materials:

• Lamb’s Pride bulky in Lemon Drop and Blue Boy
• Size US 10 circular needle
• Size US 10 double pointed needles
• Darning needle
• Place marker

Abbreviations:

• CO – cast on
• K2, P2 – knit 2, purl 2
• st st – stockinette stitch
• K2tog – knit two stitches together

Here is another fabulous Alaska hat family:

For the kids size, cast on 64 stitches on to circular needle.

For the adult size, cast on 72 stitches on to circular needle.

Follow the same pattern for both sizes:

After casting on your stitches, join last stitch to first stitch being careful not to twist the stitches.

Knit 2, purl 2 for six rounds. Knit in stockinette stitch until piece measures about 5.5 inches from the edge.

Decrease as follows:

Place a marker at beginning of round.
K2tog, K6, repeat till end of round
Knit one round
K2tog, K5, repeat till end of round
K one round
K2tog, K4, repeat till end
K one round while transferring to double pointed needles. Or knit the round and transfer stitches — whatever’s easier for you.
K2tog, K3, repeat till end
Knit one round
K2tog, K2, repeat till end
Knit one round
K2tog, K1, repeat till end
K2tog, repeat till end.

Cut yarn leaving a long tail. Run the yarn through the remaining stitches with a darning needle and draw up the hole tight. Weave in ends.

Big Dipper Motif:

Stitching motifs as I knit is hard for me because I end up pulling the yarn too tightly behind the work. Instead, you’ll be top-stitching the design. It’s super simple to learn. I recommend the tutorial from Wool and the Gang.

I made this chart by layering the actual constellation on top of graph paper. Yay science! That being said, you can rough it a little if you feel as though the spacing isn’t quite right. I ended up shifting the front star slightly. This is really a guideline. After more than 30 of these hats I just eyeball it every time.

I started with the lowest star on the dipper. It really doesn’t matter where you start the motif. Triple knot the ends on the inside of the hat and trim.

Pom-pom:

I love my pom pom maker, but you can also use the giant fork method. Once your pom pom is trimmed and pretty, secure it to the top of the hat using yarn and a darning needle. I like to go through the pom pom a few times to really get it to stay on the hat.