Polar Play

Knitted hat / Balaclava in DROPS Alpaca Bouclé and DROPS Brushed Alpaca Silk. Piece is knitted top down with textured pattern.

DROPS 225-26
DROPS design: Pattern no AB-123
Yarn group C + C or E
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SIZE:
S/M - M/L

MATERIALS:
DROPS ALPACA BOUCLÉ from Garnstudio (belongs to yarn group C)
100-150 g colour 5110, light grey
And use:
DROPS BRUSHED ALPACA SILK from Garnstudio (belongs to yarn group C)
50-75 g colour 02, light grey

NEEDLES:
DROPS CIRCULAR NEEDLE SIZE 6 mm : Length: 60 cm

KNITTING TENSION:
13 stitches in width and 17 rows vertically in stocking stitch and 1 strand of each quality = 10 x 10 cm.
NOTE! Remember that needle size is only a suggestion. If you have too many stitches on 10 cm switch to larger needles. If you have too few stitches on 10 cm switch to smaller needles.

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EXPLANATION FOR THE PATTERN:

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GARTER STITCH (back and forth):
Knit all rows.
1 ridge vertically = knit 2 rows.

PATTERN:
See diagrams A.1 and A.2. Diagrams show all rows in pattern seen from the right side.

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START THE PIECE HERE:

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BALACLAVA – SHORT SUMMARY OF PIECE:
First work piece back and forth on circular needle top down until increase from mid front is done. Then work in the round on circular needle.

BALACLAVA:
Cast on 65-69 stitches on circular needle size 6 mm with 1 strand DROPS Alpaca Bouclé + 1 strand DROPS Brushed Alpaca Silk (= 2 strands). Work pattern back and forth as follows: 1 edge stitch in GARTER STITCH – read explanation above, A.1 until 2 stitches remain, work first stitch in A.1, 1 stitch in garter stitch. REMEMBER THE KNITTING TENSION!
When piece measures 18-19 cm, cast on stitches in each side, at the end of every row (towards mid front) as follows: Cast on 1 stitch 2 times, 2 stitches 2 times (= 6 stitches in each side) = 77-81 stitches. Work the new stitches in pattern A.1. Cut the yarn.
Count 38-40 stitches in from each side, there is 1 stitch between these stitches (= middle stitch mid back and this stitch is a 2nd stitch in A.1, i.e. a stitch in garter stitch).
Insert a marker after this stitch - this now marks the beginning of round.
Work pattern as before over the 38-40 stitches until front, cast on 11 new stitches, work 39-41 stitches in pattern as before until mid back = 88-92 stitches. Continue in the round with pattern until piece measures 5 cm from where the 11 stitches were cast on mid front.
Now insert 6 markers in the piece, insert markers in a stitch which is knitted on all rows (= 1st stitch in A.1). Use these markers when increasing. They should be in a different colour than the marker mid back. Skip the first 8-10 stitches, insert a marker in next stitch, * skip the next 13-13 stitch, insert a marker in next stitch *, repeat from *-* 4 more times, 9-11 stitches remain on round, and there are 6 markers in piece + marker at the beginning of round.
Now work pattern as before but increase as every marker as shown in A.2 (= 2 stitches increased on each side of the 6 stitches with markers).
When A.2 has been worked vertically, 24 stitches have been increased on round. Move markers upwards when working. When piece measures 22 cm from where the 11 stitches were cast on mid front, increase the same way at every marker = 136-140 stitches. Work until piece measures 53-55 cm in total. Cast off with knit, but make sure to avoid a tight cast-off edge by making 1 yarn over after every 4th stitch. Cast off yarn over as stitch.

ASSEMBLY:
Fold the piece so that cast-on edge is double and sew together at the top of hood - sew inside cast-on edge and make sure that to avoid a tight seam.

Diagram explanations

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