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Bear. One of the main symbols of Siberia. The bear is called “Medved” in Russian. This word can be translated as: one who knows honey. Yes, he is a big fan of sweet berries and honey, but he is also by far the most powerful and fearsome wild beast of Siberia. They are the embodiment of all nature in one being. I appreciate and love these animals so much that I would like to hug them the way a mother hugs her children. There are a lot of bears in the places where I come from. This is very unlikely, but I have often imagined what would happen if I met a bear in the woods… Of course, this would be the most terrible event in my life. I would have sped off so fast that I would have jumped out of my clothes. So I sacrifice these balls of yarn and all our work so that this meeting will never happen. :) Oh spirits of the forest I ask you to accept this sacrifice and I thank you for giving me so much inspiration. Amen :)

The product was tested in Instagram, my permanent group of testers. All works of my testers are placed (with their permission) on this page. According to the pattern, more than a fifty products are already knitted. Most of them can be viewed in Instagram under the tag #bear_hat_markevich. On this hashtag you can find interesting color combinations. And use hashtag #bear_hat_markevich on Instagram to share your beautiful Bear hat projects, and to be inspired by what others have knit. :)
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Instructions provided for 4 sizes for adults and kids. Also, pattern includes video tutorials for the most complicated parts.

Finished sizes:

To fit head circumference approx 18-20/20-21/21-22/23-24in(47 – 50/51 – 53/54 – 56/58 – 61)

Materials:

Stranded colorwork creates dense and warm fabric. Substituting yarn, you can get fabric for desired temperature.
You can use any sport/fine weight yarn 1.75oz(50g) approx 180-219yds(165–200m) or 3.5oz(100g) approx 360-437yds(330–400m):
Suggested yarn:
Yarn in skeins:
• Holst Garn Noble, worked double-stranded, (1.75oz(50g) approx 360yds(330m), 95% geelong wool, 5% cashmere);
• Piu Bella Degas, (1.75oz(50g) 205yds(187m), 65% merino wool superfine, 20% polyamide, 15% silk);
• Infinity Design Alpaca(1.75oz(50g) approx 109yds(100m), 100% alpaca);
• BC Garn Semilla Melange (1.75oz(50g) approx 191426yds(175m), 100% organic wool);
• Alize Lana Gold Fine (3.5oz(100g) approx 426yds(390m), 49% wool, 51% acrylic);
• Alize Baby Wool (1.75oz(50g) approx 191yds(175m), 40% wool, 20% bamboo, 40% acrylic);
• Drops Nord (1.75oz(50g) approx 186yds(170m), 45% alpaca, 30% polyamide);
• Infinity Design Baby Merino (1.75oz(50g) approx 191yds(175m), 100% merino wool);
• Gazzal Baby Alpaca (1.75oz(50g) approx 175yds(160m), 55% baby alpaca, 45% merino wool).
Coned yarn:
• Knoll Donegal Soft Merino Tweed (3.5oz approx 415yds(380m), 100% merino wool);
• Knoll Merino Lambswool (1.75oz(50g) approx 232yds(212m), 100% lambswool);
• Filati Camel Tweed (3.5oz(100g) approx 437yds(400m), 82% - baby camel, 10% merino, 8% nylon);
• Pastorale (1.75oz(50g) approx 191yds(175m), 100% lambswool);
• Zegna Baruffa Supergeelong, worked holding 4 strands together (3.5oz(100g) approx 1,640yds(1,500m), 100% merino wool);
• Mink, worked double-stranded, (1.75oz(50g) approx 383yds(350m), 95% angora, 5% nylon).

Yardage

yardage provided for Holst Garn Noble/Infinity Alpaca (sample on the cover picture):
• Main color: cuff, bears, flecks, fir tree trunks and pompom (yarn A) – 360/360/437/508 yds(330/330/400/465m);
• Background color (yarn B) – 147/147/218/251(135/135/200/230m);
• Nose color (yarn C) – 36/51/51/66 yds(33/47/47/60m);
• Fir tree color (yarn D) –72/87/87/109 yds(66/80/80/100m).
Substitute colors if desired. Use hashtag #bear_hat_markevich on Instagram for inspiration and searching for different color combination.

Tools and notions

1. Circular needle size 1½ (2.5mm) 16in(40cm) long for cuff;
2. Circular needle size 2 (2.75mm) 16in(40cm) long for the main body of the hat;
3. Set of dpns size 2 (2.75mm) for crown shaping;
4. Stitch markers, 10 – 16 pcs;
5. Pompom maker;
6. Tapestry needle or crochet hook 3mm.

Gauge

30 sts х 32 rnds = 4in(10cm) over stranded stockinette using needles size 2 (2.75mm) after blocking.