Holgate Slouch Beanie
by Jen Adams www.littleyellowcat.com The Holgate Beanie is a unisex design with a gently slouchy shape. Knitted using the fair-isle (stranded) technique this is ideal for anyone new to fair-isle as well as the experienced. This beanie is knit on slightly smaller needles than usual for the weight of the yarn to ensure it doesn't lose its shape after washing and stays slouchy without becoming sloppy. Knit on both double-pointed needles and a circular needle, the Holgate Beanie is excellent for using up odd balls of yarn. YARN - 2 x 50g/100m skeins of 8ply/DK pure wool in colour A - 1 x 50g/100m skein of 8ply/DK pure wool in colour B - 1 x 50g/100m skein of 8ply/DK pure wool in colour C
A NOTEABOUT COLOURANDYARNCHOICE
Select a pure wool yarn for best results. Avoid very smooth or slick yarns. The beanie on the front cover was made with Jo Sharp Classic DK yarn in the following colours: Colour A—803Lichen ColourB—349Porcelain ColourC-326Ruby The beanie on page 4 was made with Morris Estate 8py in the following colours: Colour A—-8008 Mouse Colour B—8007 Chocolate Colour C—8048 Covert NEEDLES - a set of 3.5mm double pointed needles (dpns), a set of 3.75 dpns and a 3.75mm circular needle with a 40cm cable length. TENSiON - This hat is knit on smaller than usual needles for an 8ply/DK yarn. Once washed the hat will relax significantly so the tighter tension will mean a beanie that keeps its shape. The tighter tension also means that when you get to the decreases on the top of the hat some stitches might feel a little tight to knit. Tension over fair-isle pattern before blocking is 30 stitches to 10 cm using 3.75mm needles Tension over fair-isle pattern after blocking is 28 stitches to 10 cm using 3.75mm needles. Using the first (unblocked) tension stitch-count you can check your tension as you go.
PATTERN—Rib Section
Using dpns and colour A, cast on 140 stitches using long-tail cast on technique. Round 1 - . \*k2 in colour A, k2 in colour B, repeat from \* to end joining stitches in a circle taking care not to twist your work Round 2 - \*k2 in colour A, p2 in colour B, repeat from \* to end Rounds 3 to 10 - repeat Round 2 seven times. Continue to main pattern section (do not break yarn). Round 11 - Using colour A, \*k6, kfb, repeat from \* to end (160 stitches) Round 12 - Using colour A, knit to end
PATTERN—Main Section
Change to the 3.75mm dpns. Using Colour A as the background colour and Colour B as the foreground colour, knit 20 rounds as per chart below. You will probably want to change to the 3.75mm circular needle after about four rounds. Change to circulars when you can no longer comfortably accommodate all the stitches on your dpns. Change foreground colour to Colour C, keep Colour A as background colour and knit another 20 rounds by repeating chart below with new colour combination Using Colour A as the foreground colour and Colour B as the background colour, knit 25 rounds as per the chart on the FOLLOWING PAGE. Change back to the 3.75mm dpns when you no longer have enough stitches to comfortably use the circular needle. After round 25 break yarn of both colours in use and thread through the remaining 16 stitches. Pull to close up top of hat and secure by sewing in ends. Sew in all other loose ends. Wash gently and ease into shape before leaving to dry naturally. Foreground Colour Background Colour
IMPORTANT-—after completing round 24, slip what would be the first stitch of round 25 to the right hand needle and then proceed with round 25.
Jse of any pattern or item made from this pattern is prohibited and all text, pictures and patterns are protected by Jennifer Adams 2011 www.littleyellowcat.com
