Winter Balaclava Beginner Skill Level One Size to fit Adults Worseted Weight Wool Yarn
THE ARMADILLO?
design by Amy E. Anderson We moved to Madison this fall and bought a house where Tracy can ride his bike to work. Then the temperature dropped below zero and he needed a new style of headgear that would fit under his bike helmet and protect his face, ears, and neck. The Armadillo is designed with 3 special features: the flared skirt stays tucked into your jacket, extra short rows in front allow for a chin strap and give you enough length to pull the bottom up over your nose double stranded knitting over the ears provides extra warmth where needed. I wore a wool sweater and the Armadillo under a windbreaker and it was all I needed for a long, winter hike. Hunters, snowmobilers, and ice fisherman willove it, too! lelusesiureAlllauu. Put it on and sing How Do You Solve a Problem LikeMaria Make it in bright green and go as Gumby for Halloween Directions are given for one size to fit adults. Materials: Cascade 220 (DK-weight wool) 2 skeins Needles: Size 5, 16" circular or size needed to obtain gauge. Size 5 double-pointed needles for crown. Crochet hook size E. Gauge: 21 sts $=4^{\ast}$ in stockinette Note: If you own a size 5, 24" circular needle, you may want to start with that and switch to the $16"$ after completing the decreases. If you only have a $16"$ that's fine; stitches will be crowded at first, but you will be decreasing rapidly.
Directions:
Cast on 228 sts. Join, being careful not to twist. Rounds 1-4: $^{\star}\mathsf{K}3$ ， $\mathsf{P3^{\star}}$ , repeat \*- \*. Knit 1 rd plain. Begin Decreases as follows: 1st Dec Rd: \*K17, K2tog\*, repeat \* - \*. Knit 1 rd plain. 2nd Dec Rd: \*K16, K2tog\*, repeat \* - \* Knit 1 rd plain. 3rd Dec Rd: \*K15, K2tog\*, repeat \* - \*. Knit 1 rd plain. Continue working decreases every 2nd rd with 1 less stitch between the k2togs until you have 120 sts remaining. Note: Your last decrease rd will be $^{\star}\mathsf{K}\mathfrak{g}$ , K2tog\*. Armadillo - Page 1 Jan, 2001 Knit around for another $1\,^{1}/2"$ Begin short rows as follows (for basic information about short rows, see Page 2): [Short row: K31, slip 1, yf, slip 1 back to Left needle, turn soWS of work is faing,yfPu 30 slip1yb,i1 back to Left needle, turn so RS of work is facing, yb, Knit to end of rd. Knit 1 rd plain] Repeat [-- 3 more times. Knit even until $3\%"$ from the last decrease rd. Note: Be sure NOT to measure the height in the short row area which will be longer than the rest!! Begin Face Opening as follows: Next rd: BO 32 sts, knit to end of rd. (88 sts remaining). Turn and pur back. Now, wind 2 small bobbins or balls with 12 yards of yarn on each. Begin double stranded sections over the ears as follows: Next row (RS): K8, PM, join an extra bobbin of yarn and knit with double strand over the next 15 sts, PM, Knit 42 sts with single strand, PM, join the 2nd bobbin of yarn and Knit with double strand over the next 15 sts, PM, knit last 8 sts with single strand. Continue working back and forth in stockinette, using double strand on the 2 sets of 15 sts between markers until face opening is $3\%"$ tall, ending so the next row worked willhave RS facing. Cut the bobbins off and go back to working with single strand only. Next rd: Knit 88, Cast On 32 sts, PM. Join and knit around for $3"$ above the face opening. Begin crown decreases as follows: 1st Dec rd: $^{\star}\mathsf{K}8$ K2tog\*, repeat \* - \*. Knit 1 rd plain. 2nd Dec rd: $^{\star}\mathsf{K}\mathsf{7}$ , K2tog\*, repeat \* - \*. Knit 1 rd plain. Continue working decreases on every 2nd rd, with 1 less stitch between the K2togs until you have 24 sts remaining. Note: ° Switch to double-pointed needles when necessary. Knit 1 rd plain. [Next Dec rd: $^{\star}\mathsf{K}2\mathsf{t o g}^{\star}$ , repeat \*-\*1l Repeat $[\![\,\cdots\,]\!]\!$ one more time (6 sts remaining). Draw yarn through remaining sts and tie off.
Edging around face opening (optional):
With RS facing, start at the corner above your left eye and work single crochet around the entire face opening. Then, go around once more in chain stitch. {Then, turn so WS is facing and work single crochet across the top edge only - for brim - Turn so RS is facing and chain across top edge onlyy. Repeat $\{\,\cdot-\,\}$ one more time. Tie off and break yarn.
Finishing:
Weave in loose ends. Block with steam iron, paying particular attention to the bottom skirting so it will lie nicely over your shoulders.
Abbreviations:
$\mathsf{K}=\mathsf{K}\mathsf{n i t}$ $\mathsf{C O}=\mathsf{C a s t}$ on $\mathsf{R e p=}$ repeat $\mathsf{P=P}\mathsf{u r l}$ $\mathsf{B O}=$ Bind off yf $=$ yarn forward ${\sf R S}=$ right side K2tog $=$ Knit 2 together yb $=$ yarnback ${\sf W S}=$ wrong side P $\mathsf{M}=$ Place Marker dp $=$ double-pointed $\mathsf{s t}(\mathsf{s})=$ stitch(es) rd $=$ round Dec $=$ decrease Stockinette: Knit on RS rows, Purl on WS rows
Short Rows:
Short rows are created by working part way across a row, then turning and purling back. They are used to add extra rows into a section of the fabric for shaping. The yarn is wrapped around the base of the slipped stitch to prevent a hole from forming where you turn. To make your short rows invisible: when you get back to the stitch that was slipped, there will be a horizontal thread around the base of the stitch. Insert the right needle under this thread and through the stitch on the left needle and knit them together.
Armadillo - Page 2 Jan, 2001
