Striped Hat, Cowl & Fingerless Mitts

A matching set comprising a striped cowl, striped hat, and colour block fingerless mitts that I knitted for my niece as a gift.

This cute set used two 100g balls of 4ply sock yarn. I used a dark red (Colour A) contrasting with a silver grey (Colour B). I love this beautiful combination of colours.

You also need :

• 3mm 40cm circular needle
• 3.25mm 40cm circular needle
• 3.25mm double pointed needles (dpns)
• stitch markers
• tapestry needle

Hat

The hat has a small amount of slouch to it, although you can also turn back the brim and wear it more like a beanie. The striping sequence is the same as for the cowl.

Cast on 144 stitches using a 3mm 40cm circular needle and Colour A.

• Work 19 rounds of k2, p2 rib

Change to a 3.25mm 40cm circular needle and work the stripes as follows:

• Knit 18 rounds (stockinette stitch)
• Knit 1 round using Colour B
• Knit 5 rounds using Colour A
• Knit 2 rounds using Colour B
• Knit 4 rounds using Colour A
• Knit 3 rounds using Colour B
• Knit 3 rounds using Colour A
• Knit 4 rounds using Colour B
• Knit 2 rounds using Colour A
• Knit 5 rounds using Colour B
• Knit 1 round using Colour A

Then, begin shaping the crown using Colour B. change to 3.25mm dpns when necessary. I like to place markers to help me with the shaping.

• Round 1: (k6, k2tog) 18 times
• Round 2 & 3: k
• Round 4: (k5, k2tog) 18 times
• Round 5 & 6: k
• Round 7: (k4, k2tog) 18 times
• Round 8 & 9: k
• Round 10: (k3, k2tog) 18 times
• Round 11 & 12: k
• Round 13: (k2, k2tog) 18 times
• Round 14: k
• Round 15: (k1, k2tog) 18 times
• Round 16: k
• Round 17: (k2tog) 18 times
• Round 18: k
• Round 19: (k2tog) 9 times

Cut the yarn and gather the remaining stitches using a tapestry needle. Pull tightly. Secure the end.

Cowl

Cast on 160 stitches using a 3.25mm 40cm circular needle and Colour A.

• Work 10 rounds of k2, p2 rib.
• Knit 33 rounds (stockinette stitch)
• Knit 1 round using Colour B
• Knit 5 rounds using Colour A
• Knit 2 rounds using Colour B
• Knit 4 rounds using Colour A
• Knit 3 rounds using Colour B
• Knit 3 rounds using Colour A
• Knit 4 rounds using Colour B
• Knit 2 rounds using Colour A
• Knit 5 rounds using Colour B
• Knit 1 round using Colour A
• Knit 33 rounds using Colour B
• Work 10 rounds of k2, p2 rib.
• Cast off loosely.

Fingerless Mitts

The fingerless mitts are my own Valentine Fingerless Mitts pattern.

The colour block fingerless mitts are knit using Colour A for the ribbed cuffs at hand, wrist and thumb. The main section uses Colour B.

The Knitting Squirrel Yarn Shop has many beautiful solid colours of sock yarn in both the WYS and Opal ranges, and the Hand Dyed Symfonie Terra semi-solid would also be wonderfully effective.

What combination of colours would you choose to knit these in?