Tuesday, July 7, 2009

NORWEGIAN SNOWFLAKE HAT


Nothing says winter like Norwegian inspired knitwear and this hat is no exception. It incorporates the star motif popular in many Norwegian and Selbu designs. This hat matches the Norwegian Snowflake Scarf, and together they make a great set. Similar to the scarf it is a relatively simple knit and suitable for those with limited experience in stranded colorwork knitting. When choosing colors for this, it is important to know that traditional knitters in Norway had access to only red dye (madder) and blue dye (woad) in addition to the natural sheep colors of white, black, and grey.

Yarns suggested: Falk by Dale of Norway
Yarn weight: Sport / 5 ply, 116 yards(106 meters) per 50g skein
Gauge 8 stitches per inch
Needle size US 3 / 3.25 mm circular or DPNs
US 1/ 2.25mm circular or DPNs
Yardage 2 Skeins, 232 yards (212 meters) MC
1 Skein, 116 yards (106 meters) CC

Instructions:

CO 168 sts in MC, PM and join in the round, making sure the stitches are not twisted.

Work for 3 inches in stockinette stitch (knit all stitches) on smaller needles

Purl one round

Knit one round

Switch to larger needles and begin Chart 1, working the chart 4 times for each round.

For the next round work as follows:

*k21, PM repeat from * for entire round.

All remaining rounds are decrease rounds, and are worked as follows:

*k2tog, k to marker, repeat from * to end of round.

When only 16 sts remain, break yarn and weave tail through remaining sts.

Fold the brim of the hat inward along the purl row, stitch the CO edge to the inner side of the colorwork.

Chart 1
The triangles on the side and bottom are indicators of row/stitch numbers (every 5th row is indicated) with the green indicating the start/beginning.

The last column on the chart is identical to the first and should not be knit, it is only used as a reference.