Watch the YouTube video tutorial for this pattern at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d9FvmAPIn-c

In My Stripes Era Balaclava is knitted top down seamlessly using two colors in alternating stripes. It’s a quick and satisfying project that’s great for using up leftover yarns and only takes a few evenings to finish. The beauty of a knitted balaclava is that it keeps both your head and neck warm, and when you don’t need full coverage, you can wear it down as a hood or neckwarmer.

The In My Stripes Era Balaclava is knitted by holding one strand of fingering-weight yarn together with one strand of lace-weight yarn. The samples were knitted by combining one strand of merino with one strand of silk mohair to give the fabric a slight fuzzy sheen and softness. If you prefer, you can also just use one strand of sport or DK-weight yarn and leave out the silk mohair.

Size:
One size.

Finished measurements:
Length from top of head to bottom (when folded, laying on a flat surface): 37 cm / 15”.
Neck circumference: 53 cm / 20.75”.

Gauge:
20 sts x 29 rows / rnds = 10 x 10 cm / 4 x 4” in Stockinette stitch on 4 mm / US 6 needles flat, after
blocking.
Note: Since this is an accessory, getting the exact gauge isn’t critical. A slight variation won’t make a huge difference, just make sure you like the fabric you’re getting!

Needles:
4 mm / US 6: circular needles 60 cm / 24” for balaclava (or longer ones for Magic Loop technique).

3 mm / US 2.5: circular needles 60 cm / 24” for rib (or longer ones for Magic Loop technique).

Notions:
Tapestry needle to weave in the ends.

Suggested yarn:
The balaclava can be worked with one strand of DK weight yarn, or by holding one strand of fingering and one strand of lace weight yarn together. You need approx.:
DK weight:
100 m / 110 yds of each in MC and CC in DK weight yarn
or
Fingering + lace weight:
130 m / 140 yds of fingering weight yarn of each in MC and CC
held together with
130 m / 140 yds of lace weight yarn of each in MC and CC

Samples knitted with yarns:

Burgundy and light pink

MC Burgundy
30 g of Filcolana Arwetta (80% superwash merino wool, 20% nylon - 210 m / 230 yds / 50 g) in the color 245
held together with
10 g of Knitting For Olive Soft Silk Mohair (68% mohair, 28% silk, 4 % wool - 225 m / 246 yds / 25 g) in the color Bordeaux 101848.

CC Light pink
30 g of Filcolana Arwetta (80% superwash merino wool, 20% nylon - 210 m / 230 yds / 50 g) in the color 334
held together with
10 g of Sunday Knitting Club Silk - Mohair (70% kid mohair, 30% Mulberry Silk- 212 m / 232 yds / 25 g) in the color Lily was here 007.

Brown and light blue

MC Blue
30 g of Sandnes Garn Sunday (100% merino wool - 235 m / 260 yds / 50 g) color 6043 Baby Blue Eyes
held together with
10 g of Sunday Knitting Club Silk - Mohair (70% kid mohair, 30% Mulberry Silk- 212 m / 232 yds / 25 g)
color She’s Like the Wind.

CC Brown
30 g of Filcolana Arwetta (80% superwash merino wool, 20% nylon - 210 m / 230 yds / 50 g) color 973 held
together with
10 g of Filcolana Tilia (70% kid mohair, 30% Mulberry Silk- 212 m / 232 yds / 25 g) color 354