How do you knit a toque?

Question

I want to learn how to knit a toque for the winter months, something really cute. Pictures of what it would look like would be great, or a website that has cute ideas for toques. Don't give me stupid answers like I don't knit, it's not funny.

Please help!!!

Answer 1

I'm not sure what a Toque is, so could you please describe it for me? I have been knitting for 40 years and could probably come up with a pattern if I knew what it was.

Answer 2

Here's one that I make all the time, just change the colors and you're set.  You can even use different yarns, just if they're bulky or fancy you might need to use smaller needles.  http://www.bevscountrycottage.com/bevs-b...

You can also change it a bit and do the ribbing for 2 inches, then stockinette stitch for the length before decreasing.  They can be knit in the round on 16" circs, dpns, or knit on straight needles and then sew up the seam.  You can add a pom pom, or a tassle...  It's a nice basic toque pattern that's easy to alter.

I just found this one... http://www.girlfromauntie.com/patterns/c...

Answer 3

Most toques are knit in the round on circular needles or on double points (most end up on double points once you begin the decreases for the crown).  Mastering double points can take a bit of practice, but they aren't as horrible to use as many people make them out to be.  

There are many cute patterns for them that are available for free on the web.  Check out Berrocco.com, lionbrand.com, or knitty.com's archives for some patterns that range from simple to more difficult.  You'll probably find something you like.  In it's simplest.  You will cast on 80-120 stitches on size 7 or 8 US needles, do an inch or so in 1x1 ribbing (k1, p1 around), change to stockinette stitch for about 6 inches, to as many as 8, then work decreases based on the total number of stitches (usually knit 8, knit 2 together around, knit one round even; knit 7, knit 2 together, knit one round even; decreasing one stitch between decreases in the decrease rounds until you have a round where you knit 2 together around.  You break the yarn, thread it into a yarn needle, run this needle through the remaining stitches twice, pull it up tightly, then through the center to the inside, sew up any remaining hole and weave the ends in.  Add a pompom if you like or a tassle.

The pattern you cite is knit in Fair Isle for the patterning, and if you are comfortable working with two colors in a single row, that's not a difficult one, look in a book of Fair Isle patterns from the library for charts to work them around.  The hat itself is quite simple, much like the instruction above.  If  you aren't comfortable with stranded knitting you can knit the hat plain and embroider the flowers on after in duplicate stitch.