Working Fair Isle in rounds is so easy. Because the right side of the work is always facing, you see exactly where you are in the pattern. And because every round is knitted, it’s definitely faster than working in rows.
ESTIMATED TIME TO COMPLETE
The hat took around 5 hours from start to finish, including the ends. Note: beginners new to this technique may take longer to complete this project.
ABOUT THIS YARN
Use pure wool or wool-rich-mix DK-weight yarns for this project. You’ll find that differences in thickness between brands and yarns with different fiber mixes will not be apparent in Fair Isle. Check that the yarns you use can all be washed in the same way. If in doubt, wash it by hand.
SIZES
Measurement around head: 21½ [23½] in. (55[60] cm). Figures in square brackets refer to larger sizes; where there is one figure, it refers to both sizes.
YOU WILL NEED
• approximately 120 [150] g (4½ [5½] oz.) of wool and wool-mix DK-weight yarn; around 70 [85] g (2½ [3] oz.) of this should be in the main color (A) and 50 [65] g (2[2½] oz.) in contrasting colors (B)
• size US 6 (4 mm) circular needle, 24-in. (61-cm) long
• set of size US 6 (4 mm) double-pointed needles
• size US 3 (3¼ mm) circular needle, 32-in. (81-cm) long
GAUGE
24 sts and 26 rows to 4 in. (10 cm) over Fair Isle patt on size US 6 (4 mm) needles. Change needle size, if necessary, to obtain this gauge.
ABBREVIATIONS
cont = continue dec = decrease; k = knit; patt = pattern; p = purl; rep = repeat; RS = right side; skpo = slip 1, k1, pass slipped st over; st(s) = stitch(es); tog = together; WS = wrong side; [ ] = work instructions in square brackets as directed.
NOTES
• To work from chart in rounds, knit, reading every round from right to left. Instructions are also given for working from the chart in rows for the earflaps.
• Strand yarn not in use loosely on WS.
• The chart does not show any changes of color in the contrasting color (B). Change these B colors whenever you wish.
• The hat in the picture uses black as the main color (A) with 2 shades of green, a yellow, and 3 shades of pink and purple as the contrast colors (B).
TIPS
• When working Fair Isle patterns, spread out the stitches on the right needle each time you change color. This will stop the color rounds from pulling in.
• Save time at the end by knitting the yarn ends in over stitches of the same color on the next round.
• For the neatest results, always strand the yarns in the same order, keeping either the A yarn or the B yarn on top each time you change colors. It doesn’t matter which way you do it, so long as you’re always consistent.
• Because the hat is worked in the round, with every round knitted and only two colors in use at any one time, it’s the ideal project to try working with one yarn in each hand. Hold the A yarn in your left hand and the B yarn in your right hand. Tension the A yarn around the pinky finger and over the middle finger. When knitting A stitches, take the right needle over the yarn and dip the tip to pull a loop through. Knit B stitches in the usual way.
Keep your head warm in style with this sassy scrap-yarn hat.
CROWN
Using US 6 (4 mm) circular needle and A, cast on 132(144) sts. K 1 round. Work in patt from chart at right on page 31, changing to double-pointed needles when necessary.
Round 1 Omit edge st, rep 12 sts of first line of chart 11(12) times. This round sets chart patt. Cont in patt from chart, changing colors for B whenever you desire, and work 34 more rounds from chart. Beg with 8th line of chart, patt 20 rounds.
Dec Round 1 Using A, [k9(10), k2tog] 12 times. 120(132) sts. Beg with first line of chart, patt 7 rounds.
Cont in A, K 1 round.
Dec Round 2 [K8(9), k2tog] 12 times. 108(120) sts.
K 1 round.
Dec Round 3 [K7(8), k2tog] 12 times. 96(108) sts.
K 1 round.
Dec Round 4 [K6(7), k2tog] 12 times. 84(96) sts.
K 1 round.
Dec Round 5 [K5(6), k2tog] 12 times. 72(84) sts.
K 1 round.
Dec Round 6 [K4(5), k2tog] 12 times. 60(72) sts.
K 1 round.
Dec Round 7 [K3(4), k2tog] 12 times. 48(60) sts.
K 1 round.
Dec Round 8 [K2(3), k2tog] 12 times. 36(48) sts.
K 1 round.
Dec Round 9 [K1(2), k2tog] 12 times. 24(36) sts.
K 1 round.
2nd size only, dec round 10 [K1, k2tog] 12 times.
K 1 round.
Both sizes 24 sts.
Next round [K2tog] 12 times. 12 sts. K 1 round.
Next round [K2tog] 6 times. 6 sts. Leaving a long end, cut yarn. Thread end through sts, draw up, and secure top of hat.
Worked in rows, using two of the double-pointed needles.
Right earflap. Using A and with RS facing, skip 17(20) sts from start of round 1 and pick up 17 sts from next 17 sts of cast-on edge of hat.
P 1 row.
Work in patt from chart, as follows:
Row 1 (RS) K2A, reading 14th line of chart as a k row from right to left, work edge st and 12 sts of repeat, k2A.
Row 2 P2A, reading 15th line of chart as a p row, work 12 sts of repeat and edge st, p2A.
These 2 rows set chart patt in rows. Cont in patt, work 7 more rows.
P 1 row.
Dec row (RS) K1, [k2tog] twice, k to last 5 sts, [skpo] twice, k1. 13 sts.
P 1 row. Work dec row again. 9 sts.
P 1 row. Bind off.
Left earflap. Leave center 65(71) sts and pick up 17 sts from next 17 sts. Complete as given for right earflap.
EDGING
Using US 3 (3¼ mm) needle and A, with RS facing, beg at start of Round 1 of hat, pick up 17(20) sts to right earflap, 29 sts around earflap, 65(71) sts to left earflap, 29 sts around left earflap and 16(19) sts to beg of round. 156(168) sts.
Round 1 [P1, k1] to end.
This round forms rib. Rib 3 more rounds. Turn the work and bind off loosely purlwise.
TO FINISH
Weave in yarn ends. Press hat. Make a 5-in. (13-cm) tassel in one of the B shades and sew on top of hat, as shown in the photo at left.
