Noro Fair-Isle Flower Hat
These hats were invented as part of a introductory colorwork class at Stitch House Dorchester, in Dorchester MA, where they are still displayed. Using just two balls of yarn, you can get a great variation of color, as seen in these examples.
This is a great first project for someone tackling stranding, and tries to walk you through holding yarns in two hands (picking/throwing). Enjoy!
Materials:
1 skein Cascade 220 (100% wool, 220 yards/100g, 4.5-5 sts/in size 7-8) 1 bal1 Noro Kureyon (100% wool, 110 yds/50g, 4.5-5 sts/in size 7-8 ) The example hats are in Cascade color 8393 - Navy, and Noro 180 - Teal/ Orange/Purple multi. Feel free to substitute a different yarn, adjusting needle size and being prepared for size variations. Note: This is enough Cascade for 2+ hats, but only enough Noro for 1 and a half! 1 US size 8 16-20" circular needle (or size needed to obtain gauge) AND/OR 1 set US size 8 DPNs Stitch markers Tapestry needle Gauge: 4.5 sts/in single-color stockinette, 5 sts/in stranded in the round NOTE: Gauge is very important in this pattern! Work your fair-isle loosely, leaving long strands in the back, or you may end up with a very petite hat! Finished size: circumference - 21", iength 10" Corrugated Ribbing: Using Contrast Color (CC), cast on 90 stitches. Corrugated Ribbing round: Place marker to indicate beginning of round. Purl two stitches in Contrast Color. Move yarn to inside of work as if to knit. Using Main Color (MC), knit the next three stitches. Leave MC yarn on inside of work, bring CC to the front and purl 2. Continue as established (p2 in CC, k3 in MC) to the end of round. Repeat this round 4 more times, or until your ribbing is 1". Note: If you are holding your colors in separate hands (picking & throwing), holding CC in your right and MC in your left will be easier. The yarn in your right hand wili be knit tighter than the one in your left, but many find the purl stitch to be significantly easier when done from the right.
Noro Fair-Isle Flower Hat
Charted Knitting:
Begin knitting from the flower chart: rounds one and two are knit plain with CC; carry MC up at the beginning of each round. To make reading the chart easier, place markers every 18 stitches, to mark the beginning of a new pattern repeat. Follow the chart as written - CC will make the flower pattern, MC the background. Note: If you are picking & throwing, you will achieve best resuits holding MC'in your right hand and CC in your left (this is opposite to the ribbing!). The foreground stitches become larger and almost sit above the work, the background smaller and pulling backward.
Crown Decreases:
You will be working one decrease in round 31 at the end of every pattern repeat, by k2tog in the two stitches immediately before the stitch marker. Beginning with round 33, you will be working a decrease (k2tog) before every stitch marker in every row, until you have 30 sts total. Note: From row 38, you can break the end of the CC, leaving a 6" tail, and continue working in MC only. Row 44: k2tog all stitches. (15 sts remain) Break the yarn, leaving a 6" tail. k2tog CC MC NoStitch
Noro Fair-Isle Flower Hat
Finishing: Using a tapestry needle, feed the tail through the 15 remaining stitches to cinch the top together like a drawstring bag. Pull tight, and weave the tail into the inside of the hat. Depending on your knitting tension, the hat may seem inflexible or lumpy when you're done - don't despair! Block your hat using warm water and a wool-friendly detergent (1 recommend Soak, but others do just fine). Let it soak in the water and detergent mix for 15-20 minutes, then gently squeeze out extra water. Stretch the hat out to the desired shape, and allow to dry flat. Voila! Key: MC =Main Color CC = Contrast Color k2tog = knit two together - insert the right needle into the front of the first two loops on the left needle, and knit them together as one.
About the Designer:
Katie Rose reads, writes, and knits in and around Boston, MA. You can find her problem-solving at Stitch House Dorchester, and in her spare time, working on a Ph.D in Russian Literature. Follow her knitting and rambling thoughts at spinspinspin.wordpress.com.
