Knitty: Winter 2006

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by London Nelson It was a shivery cold Martin Luther King weekend and we were snuggled up at home with movies, popcorn and more time on our hands than usual. Picking up the needles, I really didn't know what I was getting myself into. I had recently flipped through the adorable Monkeysuits book by Sharon Turner and her Swedish Pancakes color pattern was on my mind. Could I put my own spin on her clever fair-isle design? I cast on a "hat amount" of stitches and by Monday afternoon I was elated with my funky creation. It's a close-fitting skullcap with a less-complicated-than-it-looks fair-isle pattern. Definitely warm enough to keep out the wind and cold during a frigid Minnesota winter. I knew it was special when strangers stopped me on the street, asking where it came from. The pattern is simply knit in the round with easy shaping at the top. It's a good introduction to the fair-isle technique, too. If you've never attempted fair-isle knitting before, it is a good idea to make a practice swatch. Be sure to hold the non-working yarn loosely behind. To avoid twisting the yarns, try holding one color in each hand, using the Continental method for the left-hand yarn, and the English or American method with the right-hand yarn.
model: London Nelson photos: Jennifer Simonson [Jeffrey Thompson, cover photo]


SIZE
Snug-fitting; will stretch to fits most adults.

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS
Circumference (unstretched): 15.5 inches Height: 7.75 inches

MATERIALS
Patons Classic Merino [100% wool; 223 yd/205 m per 100g skein]; 1 skein each color [MC] #0230 Bright Red [CC] #0210 Petal Pink Note: Brown Sheep Naturespun Worsted makes a good substitute. 1 16-inch US #11 / 8 mm circular needle 1 set US #11 / 8 mm double-point needles 4 large stitch markers Tapestry needle

GAUGE
16.5 sts/18 rows = 4 inches in stranded color pattern

PATTERN NOTES
[Knitty's list of standard abbreviations and techniques can be found here]
This hat is kit using two strands of yarn held together throughout. This can be done by pulling one end of yarn from the inside of the ball, and one from the outside. Alternately, you can divide each ball of yarn into two smaller balls. It does not matter if the balls are exactly the same size, as there will be plenty of each yarn left over. If you are unfamiliar with stranded color knitting (also popularly known as Fair Isle knitting), tutorials can be found here and here 1x1 Rib (Worked in the round over an even number of sts): Round 1: [K, p1] to end. Repeat this round for 1x1 Rib.
DIRECTIONS
Note: Hat is worked using 2 strands of yarn held together throughout. Using circular needle and 2 strands of MC held together, CO 64 sts. Place marker and join to begin working in the round, being careful not to twist. Work 5 rounds in 1x1 Rib. K 1 round. Join CC and work Rounds 1-20 of color chart (chart will be worked 8 times in each round). Break MC, and k 2 rounds using CC only. Next Round: [K16, place marker] 3 times, k to end. 4 markers on needle. Shape crown as follows, switching to double-point needles when necessary: Decrease Round: [K2tog, k to 2 sts before next marker, ssk] 4 times. Repeat this round 6 times more. 8 sts remain. Break yarn, draw through remaining sts and pull tight.

FINISHING
Weave in ends. Block lightly.
ABOUT THE DESIGNER
London tries to squeeze in a little knitting time between mom duties, working full time as a newspaper designer, tending a weedy garden and tap-dancing lessons. See what's cooking at her Flickr page.
Pattern & images © 2006 London Nelson. Contact London