wide brimmed hat

This hat has a stiff brim supported by wire.  Because of this, it has a very large brim without much yarn used.  Since it is knit, the sunlight is only partly blocked.  It is sized for an extra large head over 24" (but I'll put the modification for a normal 22" head in parenthesis).

This one happens to be knit in Caron Simply Soft in the color limelight on a #8 (5 mm) cable needle.  This gave a gauge of 18 stitches to 4".  It took a bit over 100 yards (less than half the skein).  I also used a second cable with smaller needles in the provisional cast on.  An 16 gauge galvanized wire (about 50") holds up the brim.

k = knit
k2tog = knit two together
yo, s1 = yarn over, slip one
k2tbl = knit two through the back loop

Provisionally cast on 216 (198) stitches.  I used a figure 8 cast on with the cable of the extra cable needle.  Join in a circle being careful not to twist and k 2 rows then knit the next row together with the live loops from the provisional cast on.  This forms the tube in which the wire will sit.
1) k22, k2tog (k20, k2tog) around
2 and each even row) k
3) k21, k2tog (k19, k2tog)
5) k20, k2tog (k18, k2tog)
7) k19, k2tog (k17, k2tog)
9) k18, k2tog (k16, k2tog)
11) k17, k2tog (k15, k2tog)
13) k16, k2tog (k14, k2tog)
15) k15, k2tog (k13, k2tog)
17) k14, k2tog (k12, k2tog)
19) k13, k2tog (k11, k2tog)
21) k12, k2tog (k10, k2tog)
23) k11, k2tog (k9, k2tog)
For the hatband shown, repeat these two rows:
1) yo, s1 around
2) k2tbl around (the yo and slipped stitch together)
Go for about 6 repeats.  Continue knitting until there are 3" or so from the brim (my hat is a little too shallow) then p a row and continue as:
1) k10, k2tog (k8, k2tog)
2 and each even row) k
3) k9, k2tog (go to step 7)
5) k8, k2tog
7) k7, k2tog
9) k6, k2tog
11) k5, k2tog
13) k4, k2tog
15) k3, k2tog
17) k2, k2tog
19) k1, k2tog
21) k2tog
22) pull yarn through the final 8 stitches and weave in the ends.  Thread the wire through the sleeve at the edge and tie the ends to the side of the wire with thread wrapped a few times then tied.

garter brim hat

This is a soft hat with a brim.  Since it is soft, the brim is fairly floppy, but can be pushed out of the eyes and will stay that way.  It can be folded in ways that help it stay up as well.  It is sized for a normal 22" head.

This one happens to be knit in Caron Simply Soft in the color limelight on a #7 (4.5 mm) cable needle.  This gave a gauge of 12 stitches to 2.5".  It took about 200 yards (more than half the skein).

k = knit
p = purl
kfb = knit front and back (an increase)

Cast on 8 stitches and join in the round or start with your favorite 8 stitch circular start.
1) kfb around
2 and even rounds) k
3) kfb, k1 around
5) kfb, k2 around
7) kfb, k3 around
9) kfb, k4 around
11) kfb, k5 around
13) kfb, k6 around
15) kfb, k7 around
17) kfb, k8 around
19) kfb, k9 around
21) kfb, k10 around
23) kfb, k11 around
25) k around for 2 to 2.5 inches
To have the hatband as shown, knit in pattern found here for another 1.5 to 2 inches ending on row 3.  Otherwise knit plain or use another desirable pattern.  There should be 4 to 5 inches between the increases and brim at the end.
For the brim:
1) kfb around
2 and even rounds) p
3 and odd rounds) k
Continue until the brim is wide enough, about 9 sets.  Cast off on a purl row.

twisted brioche stitch in the round

I wanted to do some brioche stitch as a decorative hatband, so had to figure out how to do it in the round.  I decided to do the twisted brioche stitch found here.  I also did one with the top Tunisian brioche found here, but that was simple.  The twisted brioche is a little more difficult partly because it becomes a repeat of six rows instead of just three.  It is also expressed in a style similar to using a "yarn forward" followed by knitting or a "yarn back" followed by purling when what is actually desired is a simple "yarn over".  It's the third row that is particularly problematic.

Anyway, with my interpretation of the instructions translated to in-the-round, done with Caron Simply Soft on #7 (4.5 mm) needles, this stitch looks like this:

Abriviations:
yos1 = s1yo = slip a stitch while doing a yarn over.  This results in a pair of stitches in the same spot which is common to brioche.  They are usually knit as one on the next row.
k2tog = knit two together
p2tog = purl two together
k = knit
p = purl

Instructions (requires a multiple of 3 stitches):
1) yos1, k2tog (repeat these all the way around)
2) p2tog, s1yo
3) k1, k the yo but leave it on the left needle, k2tog (yo and stitch)
4) p2tog, s1yo
5) yos1, k2tog
6) p2tog, catch the yo with the left needle and p it, p1