This was originally published in MagKnits, then in Knotions magazine and can be downloaded from their pattern archives for free

                                                                                                                                                         These colorful caps shown in Mother and Daughter sizes were originally designed for Mother’s Day during the week of the G8 summit. When Erssie designed these, Africa was very much on everyone’s mind with the G Summit, and so the hats have a Moroccan/North African feel to the styling with a bright checkerboard pattern and Fez style cord and tassel. Shown in two different colorways, each hat involves four colors alternated throughout and the Fair Isle colour work is easy enough for a complete novice.

Size
Child 2 years and above, to fit head circumference 18 inches, Women’s small, to fit head circumference 21 inches

Gauge
18 sts and 24 rows = 4 inches (10 cm) in checkerboard pattern on US #8 (5 mm) needles.
It is important to test this gauge using two colors as the Fair Isle stranding will produce a tighter gauge than normal.

Materials
Yarns
Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran (55% merino wool, 33% microfiber, 12% cashmere; 98 yd [90m] per 50g skein):

Mother's Hat
Color A: 1 skein in color 501 Green
Color B: 1 skein in color 611 Wine
Color C: 1 skein in color 208 Blue
Color D: 1 skein in color 001 White

Child's Hat

Color A: 1 skein in color 501 Green
Color B: 1 skein in color 611 Wine
Color C: 1 skein in color 208 Blue
Color D: 1 skein in color 001 White

Note: Each hat uses small amounts of each color so as long as you have approx 20g of each you should have enough.

Needles
US #8 (5 mm): one set of 5 DPNs
US #5 (3.5 mm): one pair of straight needles

Notions
Tapestry needle; scrap cardboard for winding yarn around to make tassels; bobbins for keeping lengths of separate colors of yarn, optional.

Notes
Each starts with a two color rib knitted in the round followed by two color checks and then a square top achieved using paired decreases so that each triangular section decreases towards the center of the crown. Don’t be put off by the term ‘paired decreases’, this has been worked out for you and instructions are simple K2tog or SSK wherever you’re instructed to do so and the shaping will emerge as if by magic. The hats are finished with a two color striped twisted cord and two color tassel.  Although they have a square construction, they can be folded neatly into a package that fits easily into your pocket.