Northern Lights Beanie & Mitts by Louise Mossom

Northern Lights Beanie & Mitts

Knitting
November 2024
Fingering (14 wpi) ?
30 stitches and 29 rows = 4 inches
in Beanie size 1 and mitts: in colourwork pattern using main needles
US 2½ - 3.0 mm
US 3 - 3.25 mm
US 4 - 3.5 mm
US 5 - 3.75 mm
352 - 425 yards (322 - 389 m)
Beanie: 1 (2), Mitts: One size
English

The inspiration for the Northern Lights Beanie came from the colours and movement of the Mirry Dancers. The beanie captures the night sky and the twisting, wavy patterns created by the lights. It finishes with a swirling crown of colour and the dark night sky.

The Northern Lights are elusive and for those who have never experienced the bright colours of the lights or prefer a more muted palette, the beanie has also been translated into natural undyed colours of Shetland wool. The coordinated mitts complete the set.

The Northern Lights beanie and mitt set is worked entirely in the round from the bottom up (apart from the thumb section in the mitts, worked flat for a few rows).

The beanie and mitts both start with a single colour rib brim / cuff, followed by a twocolour stranded cables section, and a loopy waves section; the next section is worked in stranded colourwork, ending in a swirling crown for the beanie, and topped by a single colour rib section for the mitts.

Modifications for lengthening the hat to make a slouchy version are included in the instructions.

SIZES

Beanie
Sizes: 1 (2)
To fit head circumference up to: 56 (59) cm / 22 (23.25) in

Finished depth: 21 (23) cm / 8.25 (9) in

Optional slouchy version adds 11.5 (10.5) cm / 4.5 (4) in of rib length in brim (can be folded if desired) and an additional 5 (4) cm / 2 (1.5) in of depth on the body of the hat.

Mitts
One size
Finished circumference: 22 cm / 8.5 in

Finished length: 22 cm / 8.5 in

Measurements are taken at widest points after blocking.

YARN

Jamieson’s of Shetland Spindrift, jumper (4ply / fingering) weight, 100% Real Shetland wool, 105 m / 115 yds per 25g ball.

Beanie
MC: 1 (2) balls
CC1: 1 (1) ball
CC2: 1 (1) ball
CC3: 1 (1) ball

Mitts
MC: 1 ball
CC1: 1 ball
CC2: 1 ball
CC3: 1 ball

Sample 1 (beanie & mitts)
MC: Eesit (105)
CC1: Black / Shaela (109)
CC2: Mogit (107)
CC3: Moorit / Shaela (115)

Sample 2 (beanie & mitts)
MC: Mirry Dancers (1400)
CC1: Lime (780)
CC2: Raspberry (1260)
CC3: Leprechaun (259)

OR in 4 ply yarn which knits to the specified tension and has similar colourwork definition.

APPROXIMATE YARDAGE REQUIRED

Beanie
MC: 84 (105) m / 92 (115) yds
CC1: 63 (80) m / 69 (88) yds
CC2: 38 (50) m / 42 (55) yds
CC3: 25 (42) m / 28 (46) yds

The slouchy version requires an additional:
MC: 54 m / 59 yds
CC2: 8 m / 9 yds
CC3: 8 m / 9 yds

Mitts
MC: 52 m / 57 yds
CC1: 21 m / 23 yds
CC2: 13 m / 15 yds
CC3: 30 m / 33 yds

TECHNIQUES
Knitting in the round, stranded colourwork, reading colour and cable charts, cables, wrapped stitches and dropped loops.