Pattern Description from Cast On, February-April 2010: “The hat began with a set of requirements. The TKGA Master Hand Knitting Program Level 3 required an original design in Fair Isle or Scandinavian stranding in at least three colors. I wanted the hat to fit me, to cover my cold ears, and to have a double roll border that I had seen on a child’s hat. I carefully studied kid’s hat patterns in a yarn company book to see what basic shapes and designs are possible. I thought about where a hat needs to fit in order to keep it on the head and not down on the face. I looked at the hats people were wearing around town. Then I chose a Swedish stranded pattern, decided on the colors and picked the yarn. I wanted the pattern to balance, with a half flower at the top and bottom. Doing that made the side of the hat high and that determined the shape of the hat - tall sides with a flattish top. I knitted the stranded part and tried it on, taking some measurements for the top. Then I figured the top. It needed to be stranded so that the fabric would be as thick as the rest of the hat and the pattern needed to look ok with decreases. My first try made the top too peaked. If the sides stretched with wear, the hat would be down on my face. I re-did the top to make it flatter. Since this garment and pattern are for a requirement in the Master Hand Knitting Program, only one size is required.”

Yarn Symbol: Super Fine (1)

Level of Experience: Experienced

Sizes: Small

Finished Measurements:

• Circumference: 22”
• Length: 8”

Materials:

• SandnesGarn SISU (1.76oz/50g, 175yds/160m, 80% wool, 20% nylon): 1 skein each #5636 blue (A), #1001 white (B), #4715 rose (C)
• Size 3 mm (no equivalent U.S. size) 16” (40cm) 2 circular needles & 5 dpns or size needed to obtain correct gauge
• 1 Stitch marker
• Tapestry needle

Gauge: Swedish Flowers pat worked in St st, 29 sts & 32 rnds = 4”/10 cm. To save time, take time to check gauge.

Notes:

• There are no US needles equivalent to a 3mm needle that was used in this project. US size 2. (2.75mm) is a bit smaller and 3 (3.25mm) is a bit bigger.
• This hat is knitted in the round with sock yarn. The traditional Swedish flower pattern is stranded with two colors per round. the hat’s border is a double Stockinette stitch roll; another roll is near the top of the hat. The hat is designed to be worn covering the ears.