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ZOHAR
Zohar is a colorful slouchy hat knit sideways, with short rows ­creating the stylized sunflower petals at the crown. It is meant to have a slight negative ease initially, as the garter stitch tends to stretch and relax a bit with time. If you want a larger hat you can just add an extra repeat of the chart, and if you want it less slouchy you can omit a few stitches when you cast on.

As the national flower of Ukraine and one of the main export crops of the country, the sunflower has become a symbol of the ­resistance of the Ukrainian people to the Russian invasion that started in ­February 2022. The face of the sunflower always turns towards the sun, just like the Ukrainian people seem to meet the invadors face first. This ­pattern is free, but I ask that you instead donate to a ­humanitarian organization like Unicef or a project working to help civilians ­affected by the war or, once it ends, towards rebuilding the country.

Apart from the Ukrainian flag, the colors of Zohar is also the colors of the Swedish flag, and the petal crown of the hat also reminds me of the European Union flag - so this hat bears a lot of symbolism. The name Zohar comes from a variety of sunflower, and is also a hebrew word meaning radiant or lustruous.

SIZE
Approximately 45 cm/17.8” ­circum­ference, 25 cm/9.8” high (unblocked).

YARN
Ullcentrum 2-ply, 300 m (328yds)/100g (light sport weight)
100 m 6/2-4162 Blå ljus Gotland
30 m 6/2-2161 Gul på vit

NEEDLES & NOTIONS
3.5 mm/US4/UK9.5 circular needles 60 cm/24”.

Crochet needle 3.5 mm/US4/UK9.5, darning needle, 1 opening stitch marker.