This fair isle hat was inspired by the native plant of the Alps Carlina acaulis or the Silver Thistle (Silber Distel in German). This plant is found on the higher alpine meadows here in the Allgäu in the northern Alps where I live.
I have offered two versions one with the high summer colors of the Alps and the other fall version which reflects the rain and mists of the season.
Both are beautiful times of year. I used the Wollmeise’s beautiful yarns but any fingering or sock weight yarn will work (be sure and knit a gauge swatch!). You will need 4 or 5 colors depending on the color-way you choose. This pattern is also scrap yarn friendly- 40g or less of each color.
This pattern would be a good choice for a first fair isle project. This pattern is knitted in the round with a corrugated ribbing in 2 colors per row and fair isle patterning on the body of the hat. There are simple decreases at the crown.