Crochet London beanie

Our friend Paula went to London with her sister Liz, explicitly on a fashion-reconnaissance trip. We're so envious :-). They came back with a great hat, a chunky crochet version of the London beanie, which is definitely longer and more structured than the US version. So here is our interpretation.

Level of difficulty

Beginner.

Measurements

22" (medium adult) head.

Materials

1 balls Crystal Palace Labrador (100g, 110yd) color 8166 (Sienna), 100% Australian merino wool.
1 balls Crystal Palace Iceland (100g, 110yd) color 8166 (Sienna), 100% Australian merino wool.
Crochet hook size N (10mm)

Gauge

3.5 pique st = 4" (10cm)

Stitches used

US:
Chain st(ch).
Slip st (sl st).
Pique stitch: yo, insert hook, yo, draw through a loop, yo, draw through 2 loops, yo, insert hook in same st, yo, draw through a loop, yo, draw through 4 loops on hook.

GB:
Chain st(ch).
Single crochet(sl st).
Pique stitch: wrh, insert hook, wrh, draw through a loop, wrh, draw through 2 loops, wrh, insert hook in same st, wrh, draw through a loop, wrh, draw through 4 loops on hook.

DIRECTIONS

Two yarns are held together through the whole thing.

ROW 1: ch 20, very loosely. slip st into first st.

ROW 2-5: Ch 2 to turn Make a pique st in each following st. Slip st in top of first st to close round.

ROW 6: Ch 2 to turn * Make 4 pique st, make 5th pique st over 2 stitches (ie don't draw the second look through the same st as the first, but through the next one) * 4 times. Sl st in top of first st to close round as usual.

ROW 7: Ch 2 to turn * Make a pique st over 2 stitches (ie don't draw the second look through the same st as the first, but through the next one) * all around. Slip st in top of first st to close round as usual.

ROW 8: Draw yarn through all stitches, pull tight. Work in ends with yarn needle.