The Reno Balloon Races are always one of the year’s most exciting festivals for everyone in the area! So when I heard about a limited edition color in honor of one of its most beautiful events, the Dawn Patrol, I just had to make something that reminded me of a classic hot air balloon glowing in the dark - with the fun psychedelic neon colors in ‘Dawn Patrol’, that was easy!

This limited edition color has since sold out; but if you have some of your own slightly “looney” sport weight yarn in colors that you would love to see on your personal hot air balloon, join me for some fun accessories – Ballooney can be a neck warmer like my sample, or a loopier cowl, and you can add a matching set of arm warmers to boot!

About the pattern:

The pattern level is easy enough for beginning intermediate knitters; it is knit in the round with a fun arch pattern and features I-cord cast-on and bind-off. Skeins as shown in the photo - where about 27” are one color and the next 27” are something else, work great for an even color repeat within the pattern, but solids or other multicolored/ self-striping skeins would be fun as well!

Materials:

200 yds of sport weight yarn for the neck warmer as shown; or 140 yds for a pair of matching arm warmers; or 400 yds for a loopier cowl.

Used for the sample: 1 skein of Lorna’s Laces Shepherd Sport (2 oz / 200 yds) in ‘Dawn Patrol’

Size 3.5mm / US 4 (or size to obtain gauge), 16” long (neck warmer) or 24” - 32” long (loopier cowl) circular needle, or DPNs (arm warmers)

Stitch Markers, locking stitch marker, darning needle

Gauge: 24 sts x 24 rows = 4” / 10cm in stockinette, unblocked