train tam
August 18, 2007
knit and designed on the train – sometimes when i woke up in the middle of the night and couldn’t get back to sleep. to continue the tradition of the smoke ring pattern, ben and i decided that this should be a free pattern too. i like the idea of free patterns for the blog that are specific to time and place.
i don’t know the rules, but i don’t think that this hat increases enough to be considered a real tam, but i couldn’t resist the alliteration of the name and it does have many tam-like qualities.
so, without further ado i present the train tam:
Train Tam
- needles: size 7 (4.5 mm) 16 in. circular and set of double-pointed needles
- worsted weight wool – for this pattern, I prefer a nice stiff wool with a bit of roughness to it, when i made a sample in the small size, i used donegal tweed and i can imagine peace fleece being nice also
- gauge: 4 ½ – 4 ¾ st./in.
- seen on a 22 in. head, knit to 5 ½ inches before decreases began
cast 90 stitches onto the circular needle
join, being careful not to twist
k1, p1 for at least an inch
increases (adding 9 stitches each row):
row 1: *k9, kfb*
row 2: k
row 3: *k10, kfb*
row 4: k
row 5: *k11, kfb*
117 stitches total
continue in stockingnet stitch until the entire piece measures
5 in. for adult small (4 yr on up) – 21 in. head
5 ½ to 6 in. for adult medium – 22 in. head
decreases (minus 9 stitches each row):
when your circular becomes uncomfortable, change to using your dpns
row 1: *k11, k2tog*
row 2: k
row 3: *k10, k2tog*
row 4: k
continue in this manner, decreasing every other row 6 times (63 stitches left)
then decrease every row
row 1: *k5, k2tog* – 54 st.
row 2: *k4, k2tog* – 45 st.
row 3: *k3, k2tog* – 36 st.
row 4: *k2, k2tog* – 27 st.
row 5: *k1, k2tog* – 18 st.
row 6: *k2tog*
you have nine stitches left
cut your yarn with a 6-8 in. tail, thread it onto a tapestry needle and pull through the remaining stitches, pull inside of the hat, knot and secure by sewing the ends in
ENJOY! and go ride a train if you haven’t yet.
p.s. i also added it to ravelry for all you ravelers – although i can’t figure out how to mark it as a free pattern.
p.p.s. here’s the size small one i did using donegal tweed that was gifted by my friend laurie on our way through seattle and some mountain colors mill end bought at the dye shop while in mt. sorry for the unmodeled pic, but my head is not size small.
Cute!! Thanks for sharing with us! You look like you are enjoying your trip.
Are you in Pittsburgh yet?
I like the colors and the shape of this. Is this recycled yarn and did you hand dye it?
Thanks for the add on ravelry, I just joined a few days ago, and am just about caught up posting every knitted FO that I still have in my possession.
it looks great and great on you, I love the colors. It sure knit up fast! THanks for sharing it :)
On your design details page there’s a spot to mark it as a free pattern over on the right.
I love the tam. It’s so cute. Thanks for the free pattern! I’m going to give it a try with some odd ball skeins I’ve got lying around. Fun!
[...] original train tam from this post done [...]
Thanks so much! I’ve been stalking your hats on Ravelry all morning. I love them!
Can’t wait to see the book!
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I love your tam! I basically have to make this now. Awesome pattern…thanks for sharing!
I made this tam for a friend of mine and she loved it. Thanks for a great pattern!
[...] It gave me the strength ; ) to finish this… [...]
Thanks for this pattern!! I made it for my 6 yr old out of some really colorful yarn and added a nice solid colored crocheted flower … it looks sooo cute on her and it fits me too. I just might have to steal it from her. Oh and I’m a novice knitter and found this pattern very easy. Thanks again!
Hi there
I was trying out your pattern for the train tam, was not sure what kfb stands for. Could you please let me know. thank you so much
Cathy C
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