West Desert Hood
Utah's West Desert is full of insects, hardy plants, and great stretches of desolate wilderness, but the muted colors and stark landscape are beautifully serene. Dusty colors from natural dyes echo the colors from the West Desert and contrast with the tans and browns of the desert background. Finished Measurements: 26" circumference and 25" long or desired length. Gauge: 12 sts/ 3" over honeycomb stitch. Yarn: DK weight yarn. 5 ounces of Main Color (a neutral like tan, cream or brown), small amounts of other colors to equal 6 ounces (1/4 oz for each row color). This hood was made using 100% silk all dyed using natural dyes. Natural dyes used were: logwood, 2nd bath of logwood, turmeric, yellow onion skin, orange peel, culinary sage, spinach, sunflowers, grass, red onion skin, red cabbage, blackberries, raspberries, brazilwood, green cabbage, green tea, paprika, purple coneflower, sunflower seeds, virginia creeperflowers,coffee,blackwalnuts. Needles: Size 8 (5 mm) circular needle 24" long. Notions: Stitch markers, sewing needle.
Hood Pattern:
With MC, CO 120 stitches. Join in the round being careful not to twist stitches. Rounds 1-5: \*(K1 P1) repeat from \* around. Round 6: Begin working Round 1 of honeycomb pattern and at the same time increase 12 stitches evenly around by knitting in the front and back of each stitch (132 stitches). Continue working Honeycomb pattern for 192 rounds (12 pattern repeats) or desired length of Hood. End after Round 16. Next Round: K with MC.
Next Round: With MC, P around and at the same time decrease 12 stitches evenly around by Purling 2 together (120 stitches). Next 5 Rounds: \*(K1 P1) repeat from \* around. BO loosely. Finishing: Weave in ends and block lightly. Honeycomb stitch (worked over 16 rounds): Round 1: K with MC Round 2: P with MC Rounds 3-8: Change to Color A. \*(K4, SL2) repeat from \* around Round 9: K with MC Round 10: P with MC Rounds 11-16: Change to Color B. K1, \*(SL2, K4) repeat from \* around to last 5 sts. End SL2, K3.
Abbreviations:
MC Main Color CO cast on K knit P purl SL2 Slip 2 stitches purlwise BO bind off
Pattern by:
lake·salt·knit
lakesaltknit.com Ravelry: vcatherall 2012
