Vincent's Skulls
Written By: Angelique Bochnak
Description:
This hat is knitted in the round beginning with circular needles and switching to double-point needles (DPN's) after several rounds of decreases result in too few stitches remaining to continue on the circulars. If preferred this hat can be knitted from beginning to end with DPN's if that is a personal preference. The pattern insert is knitted using Fair Isle (or "stranding") knitting techniques. Fair Isle is the technique of using more than one color in a row of knitting, carrying the unused color(s) along the backside of the project. There are a couple of things to
remember or think about before starting a Fair Isle project. First, when using only two colors on a project like this one, the more contrast between the colors chosen the more the design will pop. Secondly, when holding the yarns one color will always be on top and the other color will always be on the bottom. Usually the foreground/contrast color (secondary color) is held to the bottom and the primary color is held on top.
Materials:
Yarns: Any worsted weight yarn will do, the following yarn was used to knit this hat. Primary Color - Cascade 220 Paints (hat used about $^{1\!}/_{2}$ of skein) colorway － Isle of SkySecondary Color - Mystery Wool (??) Any white yarn of same weight as Primary Color Needles: Size 6 16" circulars 1 set Size 6 double point needles Tapestry needle Gauge: 20 stitches and 28 rows per $_4\"$ in Stockinette Stitch
Pattern:
Step 1: Using the circular needles, cast-on 108 stitches using the Old Norwegian Long-tail cast-on using the primary color Join the stitches in the round paying careful attention not to twist your stitches, place a marker $({\mathrm{pm}})$ at this join to mark the beginning of each round Step 2: Knit a $_{2\times2}$ rib (k2, p2) in the round for 1.5 inches Step 3: Continue knitting in stockinette stitch for 1.5 inches before starting the pattern insert Step 4: Begin kniting row 1 of chart 1 reading all rows from right to left. This is when you start knitting with both colors using the Fair Isle technique. Repeat each chart row 12 times to end of each round until all nine rows have been knitted. Cut end of secondary color. Be sure to leave a long enough tail to weave in both ends of secondary color at beginning and end of the chart. After you have completed the chart, continue knitting in stockinette stitch with primary color until hat measures 6 inches from cast-on. Chart 1:
Step 5: Time to begin decrease rows Row1: k10, k2tog, repeat to marker Row2 and all even rows: knit Row3: k9, k2tog, repeat to marker Row5: k8, k2tog, repeat to marker Row7: k7, k2tog, repeat to marker Row9: k6, k2tog, repeat to marker Row11: k5, k2tog, repeat to marker Row13: k4, k2tog, repeat to marker Row15: k3, k2tog, repeat to marker Row17: k2, k2tog, repeat to marker Row19: k1, k2tog, repeat to marker Row21: k2tog, repeat to marker
Finishing: Cut yarn leaving a long tail, thread tail through remaining stitches with tapestry needle and pul tight. Weave in all ends and enjoy! $\circledcirc2010$ FREE. Any items made from this pattern may be used for personal use, given as gifts or sold as hand made items, cause it's FREE. Just give proper credit where proper credit is due. However, you may not reformat the pattern for commercial use, and you may not sell the pattern as your own.
