Auriga Hat

The geometric colourwork design featured on this hat was inspired by the beautiful pattern of lines seen on Auriga butterfly fish. The hat features a double rib for extra cosy warmth around your ears, and a geometric colourwork pattern over the main body of the hat. Worked bottom up, a provisional cast on is used and the rib is worked flat. The rib is then folded double and knitted in place before working the colourwork body of the hat in the round. The small seam of the rib is stitched when finishing the hat. Suggestions are included in the pattern for adapting the rib style and adjusting the circumference of the hat. This pattern is suitable for intermediate knitters. SKILLS REQUIRED: provisional cast on, working flat, working in the round using a circular needle, working a smaller circumference in the round using dpns (or preferred method e.g. magic loop), knit, purl, k2tog, stranded colourwork following a chart, oversewing a small seam. SIZING To fit approximate head circumference: 21.5(22.5,23.5)”/54.5(57,59.5)cm Finished hat size (circumference above rib): 20(21,22)”/51(53.5,56)cm Height of hat: 7.5(8,8.5)”/19(20.5,21.5)cm TENSION/GAUGE 4”/10cm = 29 sts and 32 rows over colourwork on 3mm needles YARN You will need approximately the following yardages of 4ply/fingering weight yarn in your chosen 3 colours: Colour A (light blue): 98(120,137)yds/90(110,125)m Colour B (dark blue): 87(98,104)yds/80(90,95)m Colour C (orange): 60(66,77)yds/55(60,70)m I used naturally dyed 4ply/fingering weight Coara yarn (70% BFL/30% Shetland; 110yds/101m per 25g) from Shilasdair Yarns on the Isle of Skye. NEEDLES AND NOTIONS * 3mm (US 2.5) circular needle of 16”/40cm length (or size to give correct tension) * Set of 3mm (US 2.5) dpns (or size to give correct tension) – or preferred needle type for working a small circumference in the round. * A pair of 2.5mm (US 1.5) knitting needles or a circular needle for working flat (one size smaller than main needles) * Scrap yarn * Crochet hook (for provisional cast on) * 1 stitch marker * Darning needle