Vitelotte Balaclava

**At a Glance** **Yarn:** Cascade Eco+ (Bulky), or another bulky/heavy aran weight yarn that achieves gauge. 478 yd / 437 m per 250 g skein. **Needles:** 5 mm (US 8), 60 cm / 24″ or longer circular — main body. 4 mm (US 6), 40 cm / 16″ circular or DPNs — neck and front edge. **Gauge:** 18 sts / 22 rows = 10 cm / 4″ in stockinette on a 5 mm / US 8 needle, after blocking. **Construction:** Worked flat, then finished in the round. The main body is a stockinette rectangle with a slipped-stitch selvedge, folded and joined with a three needle bind off to form the back-of-head seam. The neck and the front face opening are then picked up and worked in the round. **Sizes & Measurements** **Sizes:** Baby (Toddler, Child, Adult). *BABY* Finished width (flat): 15 cm / 6″ Finished length: 21.5 cm / 8½″ Yarn: 55 g Yarn (yd / m): 105 yd / 96 m *TODDLER* Finished width (flat): 17 cm / 6¾″ Finished length: 25.5 cm / 10″ Yarn: 75 g Yarn (yd / m): 143 yd / 131 m *CHILD* Finished width (flat): 19 cm / 7½″ Finished length: 29 cm / 11½″ Yarn: 95 g Yarn (yd / m): 182 yd / 166 m *ADULT* Finished width (flat): 20.5 cm / 8″ Finished length: 33 cm / 13″ Yarn: 110 g Yarn (yd / m): 210 yd / 192 m Finished width is measured flat across the balaclava; the circumference is roughly twice this, and the fabric stretches comfortably beyond it. Finished length is measured from the crown to the bottom of the neck edging along the back seam, and is simply the body length plus the neck ribbing. **Yarn:** 55 (75, 95, 110) g of Cascade Eco+ (Bulky) at 478 yd / 437 m per 250 g skein — one skein covers any single size. If you are substituting, you will need approximately 105 (143, 182, 210) yd / 96 (131, 166, 192) m. *A note on the yarn:* Cascade Eco+ is labelled bulky, but it sits at the light end of that category and behaves much like an aran — which is why the gauge here is firmer than a bulky ballband would usually suggest. If you are substituting, a heavy aran or a light bulky will get you to this gauge most easily. Always swatch and block your swatch before you commit (or at least check before you go too far!!) **Notions:** Stitch marker, spare needle for the three needle bind off, tapestry needle. **Pattern Notes** This cosy balaclava begins flat, then is finished in the round. In the spirit of fun, it has a gentle peak at the back of the head. For extra fun and warmth, use your leftover yarn to work up the Vitelotte Toque (size L) and wear them together <3. The main body is a plain stockinette rectangle. It is folded and joined with a three needle bind off to close the back of the head, and the neck and front face opening are then picked up and worked in the round. Both the neck and the front edge finish with two rounds of double knitting worked into a stretchy Italian (tubular) bind off, which gives a fully reversible, non-curling edge with plenty of give — important on a garment that has to pull over a head and sit against the face. Gauge is taken in stockinette after blocking. Swatch and block before casting on, since gauge determines both the fit and the yardage.