LEFT HAND
Rugged Hat with Mid-1800s Motif
by Bonnie Dean Inspired by photos of clothing in the book Chief Left Hand, by Margaret Coel (reprinted 1987), the motif in the center of the hat and the three-stripe pattern are created with a simple Fair Isle pattern in this simple, yet elegant hat. In lieu of ribbing, the hat features a self-hem that provides extra warmth and snugness for the wearer.
THE PATTERN
With CC, mid-size needles and waste yarn, provisionally cast on 84 (96, 108) sts. Join to work in the round, being careful not to twist the sts. PM to indicate the end of round. Round 1-10: Knit. Round 11: With MC, knit. Round 12: With MC, purl. Round 13-23: With MC, knit. Before proceeding with Round 24, secure and weave in yarn ends from color change in Round 11. Round 24: (Closing the hem): Transfer the provisional sts to smallest needles. Fold up hem with WS together, holding provisional sts (in CC) next to needle with MC sts. Work around hat, knitting one st from each needle (one MC st and one CC st) together to close the hem. Technical note: When working Rounds 34-42, carry yarn no more than 5 sts before "catching" yarn by laying it across the right hand needle, avoiding incorporating the carried yarn into the stitch of the color being used.
Work Rounds 25-42 by following either the Chart, or the following instructions:
Round 25: Continuing on mid-sized needles, join CC, purl to end of round. Rounds 26-27: Change to largest needles and MC, knit. Round 28: With CC, knit. Rounds 29-32: Rep Rounds 25-28. Round 33: With CC, purl. Rounds 34-36: \*K1 CC, k9 MC, k1 CC, k1 MC; rep from\* to end. Round 37: \*K11 CC, with MC k1; rep from\* to end. Round 38: \*K1 MC, k9 CC, k2 MC; rep from\* to end. Round 39: \*K2 MC, k7 CC, k3 MC; rep from\* to end. Round 40: \*K3 MC, k5 CC, k4 MC; rep from\* to end. Round 41: \*K4 MC, k3 CC, k5 MC; rep from\* to end. Rounds 43-57: With MC, knit. Round 58: With CC, \*k12, pm; rep from\* to end. Round 59: With CC, \*p to 2 sts before marker, p2tog; rep from\* to end. Round 60: With MC, knit. Round 61: \*K to 2 sts before marker, k2tog; rep from\* to end. Rounds 62-69: Rep Rounds 58-61 twice more. Round 70: Knit. Round 71: Rep Round 61. Rounds 72-79: Rep Rounds 70 and 71 until 7 (8, 9) sts remain.
Finishing
Break yarn and weave through remaining sts, closing hole. Weave in all ends. Block.
THE CHART
The chart is worked in the round by reading each chart row right to left. The 12-stitch repeat occurs 7 (8, 9) times on every row. Start with Round 25 on mid-sized needles, then switch to the largest needles on Round 26.
Abbreviations
CC contract color CO cast on Dpns double pointed needles K, k knit K2tog knit 2 together MC main color P, p purl P2tog purl 2 together PM, pm place marker Rep repeat St(s) stitch (es) St st Stockinette stitch WS wrong side
THE DETAILS
Experience
Notions
Skills required: Knitting in the round, provisional cast-on, simple Fair Isle colorwork
Materials
EXPERIENCED
Approximately 51 CC, 85 MC (58 CC, 98 MC, 65 CC, 110 MC) yards of worsted weightyarn Shown in Mountain Meadow Wool, LARAMIE hand-dyed (10o%o mountain merino wool; 2 ply Worsted Weight, 3.5 oz/196 yards) colors #10930 Prairie (MC) and #10931 Denim (CC); 1 skein each
Needles
Size US 6 (4 mm) 16"circular and dpns or size needed to obtain gauge Size US 5 (3.75 mm) 16"circular one size smaller than used to obtain gauge Size US 3 (3.25 mm) - or any smaller needle - 16" circular to hold provisional sts for closing the self-hem in Round 24 Yarn needle Stitch markers 7 (8, 9) Waste yarn for provisional cast-on
Gauge
20 stitches/31 rows = 4"/10 cm in St st with larger needles Finished Measurements 16 (18, 20.5)" or 40 (46, 52) cm circumference
Size
Adult Small (Medium, Large) fits head circumference 18 (20, 22.5)" 0r 45 (51, 57) cm
Copyright and Usage Statement
This pattern was created and written by Bonnie Dean [Designer]. It is intended for personal use only [that is, you may use the finished items for yourself or for gifts]. The pattern is not to be distributed, for free or for money, in any format, without the permission of the Designer. Items created from this pattern are not to be sold or used for commercial gain without the permission of the Designer. If you are interested in working out an agreement to distribute this pattern or to sell products made from this pattern, please contact Bonnie Dean at chieflefthandknits@gmail.com or Ravelry ID bonniezd.
Bonnie Dean
Bonnie Dean lives in Billings, MT with her husband Edward. Their son Gavin from Boulder, CO introduced Bonnie to the knowledge of Chief Left Hand, a Southern Arapaho Chief who lived in the mid-1800's near Boulder and spoke English from childhood. She chose to name her company Chief Left Hand Knits, incorporating her love of hand knitting and her longstanding love of decorative and fine arts of Native American artists, along with the beauty of the spaces around Boulder where Chief Left Hand wintered. Bonnie is looking forward to applying her experience in fabric-based garment construction and design to a new medium.
