The Comfort Zone

FAIR ISLE TREES AND HILLS HAT
By Katherine Myers

This hat was designed for my son who is a nature lover and birder.  He loves watching trees with his high-powered camera and scope, looking for rare birds, and taking beautiful pictures.  I hope this hat will keep him warm and serve as a reminder that he is loved.  (I embroidered a red Cardinal in two of the trees).

Materials:

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  • Yarn: 2 balls of Debbie Bliss Rialto DK in color A – tan, 1 ball each color B – brown and color C – green. (Or other DK weight yarn to meet gauge).   
  • Needles: US size 6 – 16 inch circular needle and five US size 6 double pointed needles.

Gauge:            Gauge is not too important but using the Rialto mine worked out to be         
22 Sts = 4 ins.

Pattern:          Charts below.
K2tog:  Knit two stitches together.
SSK:  slip one stitch (as if to knit), slip a second stitch (as if to knit), then insert left needle into the front of both stitches now on the right needle, and knit together through back loop.

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  • Cast on 120 stitches in color A (tan).  Join to knit in the round and place marker for beginning of round. 
  • Create a 2×2 rib until the piece measures 2 inches.
  • Continuing in Color A (tan), knit the next four rows (stockinette).

NOTE:  Float second color behind the main color loosely so the knitted fabric will not pucker.

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  • Begin the fair isle pattern (see charts below) beginning with chart A in color B (brown).  Place a marker at the beginning of each pattern repeat.
  • After you finish chart A knit two rows in color A (tan) before beginning chart B in color C (green).
  • On second tan row, before beginning trees, decrease one stitch at the beginning and end of each of the five repeat sections for a two stitch decrease in each section (from 24 stitches to 22 stitches in each of the five sections).
  • Complete chart B for trees.
  • After finishing the trees, continue in color A (tan) until hat measures 6 to 7 inches in length from edge of ribbing (depending on size of head and depth you wish the hat to be).

NOTE:  If you choose to do so you may use chart C in white to add snow over the trees and/or add a bird in one or two trees using duplicate stitch. 

Decreasing Top of Hat:

NOTE:  Switch to size 6 double pointed needles when necessary.

o   Row 1:  k1, ssk after beginning marker.  Knit remaining stitches to last 2 stitches in section, k2tog.  Repeat with each of the five sections to end of round. 

o   Row 2:  Knit all stitches around.

o   Row 3:  Repeat row 1.

o   Row 4:  Repeat row 2.

o   Continue in this fashion until 10 stiches remain in each of the five sections.

o   Next row k2tog around.

o    Continue k2tog until 2 stitches remain on each needle.

Finish:

o    Cut the yarn, leaving 12 to 18 inch tail. Thread the tail through the remaining stitches and tie off. Weave in ends.

 

 

CHART A

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CHART  B

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CHART C

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Copyright © 2008 by Katherine Myers.  All rights reserved.  These instructions are intended for your own personal use.  You may distribute them freely as long as copyright is intact and attributed to designer.  Any questions or comments may be sent to knittykat AT sbcglobal DOT net.

 

This page has the following sub pages.

• Twisted Rib Socks