Clochán an Aifir Beanie

*‘Long long ago there lived a giant named Fionn MacCumhaill…’* A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Giant’s Causeway (Clochán an Aifir) sits tucked on the Antrim Coast underneath basalt cliffs. It is made up of some 40,000 black basalt columns that are renowned for their hexagonal shape. Legend says Finn McCool built the Causeway when building a path to fight the Scottish giant Benandonner (check out the legend to learn how Finn’s wife Oonagh prevented conflict!). Said to have inspired Tolkien’s Middle Earth, this beautiful and rugged landscape has also inspired this beanie! Worked in the round, this hat uses a modified honeycomb stitch to represent the Causeway’s unique stones. It is the partner to my [Causeway Cowl][1]. While the pattern is written for Sport or DK weight yarn, it also offers advice on how to make your gauge work for you so you could substitute a different weight and/or needle size. > **Pay What You Can** > I’ve introduced a permanent discount scheme that will > help keep my designs accessible to a > range of budgets while also pricing > them in a way that reflects the > investment put into my designs and > craft. > > To avail of these discounts, you must be a newsletter subscriber. [Click here to subscribe.][2] Make sure you confirm your subscription via an automated email (you may need to check your junk folder). > > **10% of this pattern’s sales are donated to ALS/MND charities.** **Materials** * Main Colour: 76-239 yards/70-218m of Malabrigo Arroyo (100% superwash merino) or another Sport/DK weight yarn (samples shown in Malabrigo Arroyo in Archangel and Flama) * Contrast Colour: 61-163 yards/56-149m of Malabrigo Arroyo (100% superwash merino ) or another Sport/DK weight yarn (sample shown in Malabrigo Arroyo in Fresco y Secco and Azul Profundo) * US6/4.00mm 16”/40cm circular knitting needle or size needed to obtain gauge * US5/3.75mm 16”/40cm circular knitting needle, or one size smaller than size needed to obtain gauge * US6/4.00mm double pointed needles or size needed to obtain gauge, or another preferred method for working small circumferences in the round * 1 Stitch marker * Tapestry needle for weaving in ends **Gauge** 24 sts x 32 rows in main pattern worked in the round and blocked = 4”/10cm **Pattern Notes and Size Guide** This pattern is written in the round, with round counts resetting to Round 1 for each section of the pattern. During testing, one tester offered feedback that using a 16"/40 cm circular to work in the round was a better experience than using magic loop, saying that knitting in the round led to more flow, more even gauge and more enjoyable experience. This pattern is written for six different sizes, with sizes listed in the instructions as: Size 1 (Size 2, Size 3) (Size 4, Size 5, Size 6) and measurements provided in inches and then cm. Centimeters are rounded to the nearest 0.5cm and inches are rounded to the nearest ¼”. (Please see photos for the size chart and yarn requirements for each size.) The hat has been graded with a proportional negative ease of 10% and is designed to be extra slouchy. For a more fitted hat, you could size down one or two sizes. Want an in-between size or to adjust the pattern to meet a different gauge? Make sure that you cast on in multiples of six (and note that you may need to recalculate your crown shaping section). Bear in mind that you’ll want some negative ease in order to ensure the hat stays on while wearing it, and that any adjustments will influence the amount of yarn needed. [1]: https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/causeway-cowl?buy=1 [2]: https://53039afa.sibforms.com/serve/MUIFAJZGcChJq30AvAQP44pJvewVaFY0i4hGzY69ivjbRNSh14qPsxQD42OZHdnDzjLQcl8QIoQInZIvnn95U0xcGO39UXIE-wIpkM12ec-I8qmMX9IGsK36WoitTZdpNguzmmxEHNQt5KaJdrygN1CmxqxgbM5F73dtlZhHKkuVk4JfnymreHot-IkKnbdEqQTSnMl4DV8fj5rMMA==