Winter Shimmers is a joyful winter mystery hat with just the right touch of holiday magic.

Knit on a dark or light background with two contrasting colors, this design particularly shines when you pair deep hues with something bright or light. Try dark blue or purple with pale blue and gray, or rich green with red and gold. The stranded colorwork creates depth and pattern, while beads catch the light. (You may feel free to omit beads.)

Rios would be an excellent yarn choice. Choose silver beads if you’d like the look to be a little frostier, or gold beads if you’d like it to be like candle glow. Or choose any colors of yarn or beads that you’d love! Be sure you’re using a soft worsted-weight yarn that knits at 5 stitches per inch.

You’ll want 16” needles, sizes U.S. 5 (3.75mm) and 7 (4.5mm), and double points, size U.S. 7 (4.5mm) or a size or two smaller for the top. Or work any way you prefer in the round.

This pattern features:

• Stranded knitting for beautiful colorwork
• Beads for subtle sparkle (about 114 size 5/0 beads for the largest size--but always buy extra!)
• A satisfying project for knitters comfortable with colorwork and basic beading

A Weekend Mystery

The pattern unfolds over three days:

• Friday, December 19
• Saturday, December 20
• Sunday, December 21

Each day reveals the next section of the hat, making it a fun, focused project you can enjoy over the weekend. By the end, you’ll have a festive hat ready to wear or gift for Christmas.

If you love winter knitting, thoughtful color choices, and a touch of seasonal shimmer, Winter Shimmers is a perfect way to celebrate the season. (Want to get a general idea of the vibe of the hat? Look at my two previous winter mystery hats, Winter Sparkles and Winter Glows.)