Half Fish Beanie

Proud as mrs. T. may be of her Fishy hat, she is not blind to the fact that some people wouldn’t dare to walk around with a dead fish on their head. Even not if it’s a woolly knitted one. Maybe this clear insight is because two of her own children (teenagers…) wouldn’t want to be seen dead wearing with the mentioned thing…
That’s why she designed a less decorated version of her Fishy. It’s a beanie with just a fishtail on top. She calls it ‘Half fish beanie’ and here’s the pattern!

Half Fish Beanie
Size:
large child/small adult
Finished measurements: circumvence 50 cm (unstretched)

Materials:
1 set US #3/3.25 mm dp needles (or size needed to obtain gauge)
and about 50 gr yarn in any color(s) you like.
(Mrs. T used unknown acrylic yarn from stash).

Gauge:
18 sts and 28 rows = 10 cm/4 inches

Pattern:
Cast on 86 sts using needle size US 3/3.25 mm. Divide sts (almost) evenly between needles and join to begin working in the round, being careful not to twist.
Work in 2x2 rib stitch (k2, p2) for 2,5 cm/1 inch.
Start knitting in stockinette st and work until hat measures 10 centimeters/4 inches. Now prepare work for decreasing: K21, place marker, k22, place marker, k21, place marker, K 22, place marker.
Decreasing:
Row 1: k to 3 sts before marker, ssk, k1, slip marker, k1, k2 tog, repeat 3 times (8 sts decreased).
Row 2: k all
Repeat row 1 and 2 seven times more until 22 sts remain.

Fish tail
K 3 rounds.

Next Round: K17; place last 11 sts worked on small st holder.

First half of tail will be worked back and forth over remaining 11 sts on needles (last 5 sts of current round and first 6 sts of next round).
Row 1 [RS]: [K1, kfb] 5 times, k1. 16 sts.

Even-Numbered Rows 2-6 [WS]: P all sts.

Row 3 [RS]: [K1, kfb] to end. 24 sts.

Row 5 [RS]: K1, kfb, [k3, kfb] 5 times, k2. 30 sts.

Rows 7-12: Work in stockinette st.

Row 13 [RS]: K1, k2tog, k to last 3 sts, ssk, k1. 28 sts.

Row 14 [WS]: P all sts.

Rows 15-20: Work as for Rows 13-14. 22 sts.

Row 21 [RS]: Work as for Row 13. BO remaining 20 sts.
Replace held sts on needle and rejoin yarn with RS facing.

Work Rows 1-21 as for first half of tail.

Sew tailparts and weave in ends.