Also available for download for charitable purposes from the Ness of Brodgar.

Featuring stranded colourwork knitted in the round, with corrugated ribbing, this hat is inspired by symbols carved on the Neolithic stone artefacts excavated at the Ness of Brodgar, Orkney. A matching mitts pattern is also available in my ravelry store.

The design of this hat came about as a charitable fundraising collaboration with Orkney Tweed and the Ness of Brodgar, in order to raise funds for ongoing excavations. The pattern is available from my ravelry store, but if you would like the proceeds of the pattern to go directly to supporting the charity, please visit the Ness of Brodgar website here, where the pattern can be downloaded in PDF format.

Join the Skein Reaction Ravelry group for information and discussion about my designs.

Yarn: Orkney Tweed 4-ply 100% wool (105m/114yd per 25g skein) - one skein in each of:
Zwartbles Black/Dark Grey (A)
Natural White (B)
Zwartbles Black (C)
Light Grey (D)

Depending on gauge, one skein of B & C is sufficient for both the hat and mitts.

Orkney Tweed yarn is available from the Orkney Tweed shop in Kirkwall, see here for contact details.

Yarn Substitution:
Similar yarns include Jamiesons of Shetland Spindrift or Jamieson & Smith 2-ply jumper weight, one 25g ball in each of 4 colours.

Needles and Notions
3mm/US 2.5 (or size required to obtain gauge over stranded colourwork) preferred needles for small and medium diameter knitting (DPNs and 40cm/16in circular needle, or 80cm/32in circular needle for magic loop method).
2.75mm/US 2 (or one size smaller than gauge needle) preferred needles for medium diameter knitting (40cm/16in circular needle, or 80cm/32in circular needle for magic loop method).
Stitch marker, tapestry needle for finishing, dinner plate approx 27cm/10.5in & bowl for blocking.

Gauge
24 sts and 34 rounds to 10cm/4in, after wet blocking, across stranded colourwork and stocking stitch at widest part of crown on larger needles. Gauge immediately above ribbing is 31 sts to 10cm/4in on smaller needles. Adjust needle size if necessary to obtain gauge.

Measurements and Sizing
Crown diameter 27cm/10.5in; ribbing size 1(2) to fit head of 53-58cm/21-23in (59-64cm/23-25in) circumference. Hat shown in size 2 on a 59cm/23in head.

Skills Required
The pattern uses stranded colourwork, requiring anchoring of longer yarn floats behind work. Other techniques include
German twisted cast-on and corrugated ribbing. See skeinreaction.com for more information.