This is the hat, Barley, in tincanknits’ free set of patterns designed for beginning knitters and the rest of us drawn to straightforward, easy knits: The Simple Collection. Don’t confuse Barley the hat, with Rye the socks, Wheat the scarf, Malt the baby blanket, Oats the Cowl, Maize the fingerless mitts or the sweaters Flax and Harvest. It’s a wonderful collection, complete with special on-line tutorials to help the knitter over any bumpy spots.

My blue Barley is knit in Lion Brand Martha Stewart Crafts Extra Soft Wool Blend. Here’s a few more views:

All the patterns in the collection include sizes infant through adult. Egad! And all are free. Here’s an infant-sized Barley knit in Berroco Comfort, an easy-care acrylic with a wonderful range of colors.

I even tried a Barley variant (that’s my story and I’m stickin’ to it), where I substituted reverse stockinette for the garter stitch insert and made the insert a few stitches wider:

And, all together now….awhhhhh!