Entourage Hat (with Pattern)

A couple of weeks ago, DMS (Darling Middle Son) directed my attention to a freeze frame on the DVR from an old episode of Entourage and requested that I knit him Vince's hat. Now, it must be noted that knitting commissions from my family are few and far between, and generally of the entirely unreasonable variety (recently example from DD: "Mom, I need you to knit me a pair of full-length overalls for Jacquie's bar mitzvah party. Oh...it's this weekend. And do you have any cashmere?"). Anyway, the proposed hat pictured above seemed perfectly do-able, so knit it I did ("it's crochet," you say? Hush, dear reader, DMS knows not the difference). Pattern of sorts follows (if you're not into Entourage, it will make a basic beanie adaptable to all sorts of striping or no striping at all):

Entourage Hat

Materials: Worsted weight yarn in 3 colors; approx. 1 50g. ball of color A (blue), lesser amounts of colors B (white) and C (black). I used antique stash yarn: 1 ball of Filatura Di Crosa Primo Antartic Wool Superwash for the blue, plus Woolease for the white and black.

Needles: 16" size 7 circular needle, plus an additional size 7 circular or a set of double-points for the decreases.

Gauge: It's a hat. It'll fit somebody. This pattern will yield a one-size-fits-most-adolescents-and-adults.

On circular needle, cast on 72 sts. in Color B (white). Place marker and join, being careful not to do the twist. Knit 1" of K2, P2 rib (approx. 5 rounds). On next round, increase evenly 12 stitches (K6, M1 around--I use a simple over the thumb loop increase here) for a total of 84 sts.

Change to Color C (black). Knit an inch of stockinette (knit every round for approx. 5 rounds).

Change to Color A (blue). Knit every round until hat measures 6" from beginning (approx. 25 rounds of Color A).

Begin decreases, knitting every other round plain:

Round 1: *K10, K2tog* around (77 sts.)

Round 2: K around

Round 3: *K9, K2tog* around (70 sts.)

Round 4: K around
Round 5: *K8, K2tog* around (63 sts.)

Round 6: K around
Round 7: *K7, K2tog* around (56 sts.)

Round 8: K around. At this point, your stitches will start straining on the needle so you'll want to divide them evenly onto double points or, my preference, 2 circular needles (thanks, KnittingHelp.com. Knit on, decreasing every round from this point on.

Round 9: *K6, K2tog* around (49 sts.)

Round 10: *K5, K2tog* around (42 sts.)

Round 11: *K4, K2tog* around (35 sts.)

Round 12: *K3, K2tog* around (28 sts.)

Round 13: *K2, K2tog* around (21 sts.)

Round 14: *K1, K2tog* around (14 sts.)

Round 15: K2tog around (7 sts.)

Cut yarn, thread through yarn needle and gather remaining stitches. Weave in ends, and wear proudly while rollin' with your homies.

Eat your heart out, Adrien Grenier.