Uncharted Territory

Knitted hat / balaclava in DROPS Merino Extra Fine. The piece is worked top down with stocking stitch and ribbed edging.

DROPS 214-72
DROPS Design: Pattern no me-227
Yarn group B
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SIZES:
S/M - L
Fits head size: Approx. 54/56 - 58 cm

MATERIALS:
DROPS MERINO EXTRA FINE from Garnstudio (belongs to yarn group B)
150-200 g colour 06, brown

KNITTING TENSION:
22 stitches in width and 30 rows in height with stocking stitch = 10 x 10 cm.

NEEDLES:
DROPS CIRCULAR NEEDLE SIZE 3.5 MM: Length 40 cm or 60 cm for stocking stitch.
DROPS CIRCULAR NEEDLE SIZE 3 MM: Length 40 cm or 60 cm for rib.
Needle size is only a guide. If you get too many stitches on 10 cm, change to a larger needle size. If you get too few stitches on 10 cm, change to a smaller needle size.

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EXPLANATIONS FOR THE PATTERN:

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RIDGE/GARTER STITCH (worked back and forth):
Knit all rows.
1 ridge in height = Knit 2 rows.

INCREASE TIP (for sides of face-opening):
Increase on the inside of the 5 stitches on each side. All increases are worked from the right side!
Increase 1 stitch by making 1 yarn over. On the next row (wrong side) purl the yarn over twisted to avoid a hole. Then work the new stitches in stocking stitch.

INCREASE TIP-2 (evenly spaced):
To work out how to increase evenly, count the total number of stitches on the needle (e.g. 102 stitches) and divide by the number of increases to be made (e.g. 22) = 4.6. 
In this example, increase by making 1 yarn over after alternately each 4th and 5th stitch. On the next round work the yarn overs twisted to avoid holes.

DECREASE TIP (mid-back):
All decreases are worked from the right side!
Start 5 stitches before the marker thread mid-back, knit 2 together, knit 6 (the marker sits between these 6 stitches), slip 1 stitch as if to knit, knit 1 and pass the slipped stitch over the knitted stitch (= 2 stitches decreased).

CASTING-OFF TIP:
To avoid the cast-off edge being tight you can cast off with a larger size needle. If the edge is still tight, make 1 yarn over after approx. each 4th stitch at the same time as casting off; the yarn overs are cast off as normal stitches.

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START THE PIECE HERE:

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BALACLAVA – SHORT OVERVIEW OF THE PIECE:
The mid-section is worked back and forth with circular needle from mid-front and backwards. Stitches are knitted up on each side of the mid-section and the piece continued back and forth before stitches are cast on for the neck. The piece finished in the round. A ribbed edge is worked around the face-opening to finish.

MID-SECTION:
Cast on 28-28 stitches (including 1 edge stitch on each side) with circular needle size 3.5 mm and Merino Extra Fine. Purl 1 row from the wrong side. Then continue back and forth with stocking stitch and 1 edge stitch in GARTER STITCH on each side – read description above . REMEMBER THE KNITTING TENSION!
When the piece measures 13-14 cm, cast off the edge stitches on each side = 26-26 stitches. Cut the strand, then work the hood as described below.

HOOD:
Knit up stitches on each side of the mid-section from the right side as follows: Knit up 28-32 stitches along the one side inside the 1 edge stitch, work stocking stitch over the 26-26 stitches on the needle and knit up 28-32 stitches along the other side inside the 1 edge stitch = 82-90 stitches. Insert 1 marker thread in the middle of the row (= mid-back). Allow the thread to follow your work onwards, it is used when decreasing mid-back. In addition, insert 1 marker at the beginning of the row. THE PIECE IS NOW MEASURED FROM THIS MARKER!
Work stocking stitch back and forth with 1 edge stitch in garter stitch on each side towards mid-front. Then increase each side towards mid-front and decrease mid-back as follows – read the whole section on increasing and decreasing before continuing!

INCREASES MID-FRONT:
When the piece measures 13-15 cm from the marker, increase 1 stitch on each side towards mid-front – read INCREASE TIP-1 (= 2 stitches increased). Increase like this every 4th row (every 2nd row from the right side) a total of 6 times on each side.

DECREASES MID-BACK:
AT THE SAME TIME the 3rd time you increase, decrease 2 stitches mid-back – read DECREASE TIP. Decrease like this every 4th row a total of 4 times (increases and decreases are finished at the same time).

After all the increases and decreases there are 86-94 stitches. When the piece measures 20-22 cm from the marker, cast on stitches for the neck (try the hat on and work to desired length before casting on).
Cast on 16-16 stitches at the end of the next row from the right side = 102-110 stitches. Continue working in the round as described below.

NECK:
Work 5 rounds of stocking stitch over all stitches. On the first round increase 22-22 stitches evenly spaced – read INCREASE TIP-2 = 124-132 stitches. Change to circular needle size 3 mm and work rib in the round (knit 2, purl 2) for 3 cm. Now increase all knit 2 to knit 3 by making 1 yarn over after each knitted section (the yarn overs are knitted twisted on the next row to avoid holes) = 155-165 stitches.
Continue in the round with knit 3, purl 2 until the rib measures 11-12 cm. Loosely cast off with knit over knit and purl over purl – read CASTING-OFF TIP. The piece measures approx. 39-42 cm from the middle of the mid-section down the side.

EDGE AROUND FACE-OPENING:
Start from the right side at the bottom of the opening, where stitches were cast on for the neck. Knit up 140 to 152 stitches around the opening, inside the 1 edge stitch using short circular needle size 3 mm and Merino Extra Fine. The number of stitches should be divisible by 4.
Work rib in the round (knit 2, purl 2) for 3-3 cm. Loosely cast off with knit over knit and purl over purl – remember CASTING-OFF TIP.

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