The Christmas Kep has a definite festive feel about it but can also be worn throughout the winter. The colours used are those that we most associate with the festive season, warming reds and forest greens that we use to decorate our homes and Christmas trees.

This is a hat that can be given as a hand knitted present or can be gifted to a knitter as a kit for them to knit. The traditional motifs are used in Shetland knitting but probably originate from Norway and are part of the rich exchange of pattern motifs that have been absorbed into knitting culture as goods were traded along the fishing and shipping routes between Norway and Shetland.

The Christmas Kep pattern is a collaboration with The Border Mill using their North Coast Tweed 4 ply. Yarn kits are available in their online shop .

The pattern is knit in the round, using a provisional cast-on and a 3 needle join to join inner and outer brims. There are 3 colourways with coloured charts for each colourway. (NB. the chart colours vary from the yarn shades for ease of reading the charts).
This project is suitable for a wide range of knitters.

Size
There is one size (to fit an adult head).
Hat circumference at brim: 51.5 cm (20.75 in) to fit head circumference 51.5 – 56.5 cm (20.5 – 22.25 in) with 0-5 cm (0-2 in) negative ease.
Hat length (from brim to crown): 31 cm (12.5 in)

Gauge
29 stitches x 33 rnds = 10x10 cm/4x4 in for the blocked Fair Isle. Sample was knitted on 3.5 mm needles. Use a needle size that achieves gauge for you. Swatch in the round, wash and block.

Needles
Three, 3.5 mm (US4) x 40 cm (16 in) circular needles (or dpns) – or size to achieve gauge.
One set of 3.5 mm (US4) dpns for crown decreases.
Crochet hook for a provisional cast-on.

Yarn
The Border Mill, North Coast Tweed 4 ply (pure Shetland), 360m (394 yds) per 100g.
Yarn kit quantities for the 3 CW shown below:

Farr Bay colourway:

1 x 25g Farr Bay (02)
1 x 25g Cockle (61)
1 x 25g + 1 x 10g Dornoch Firth (01)
1 x 25g Morangie Forest (54)
1 x 25g Applecross (25)
1 x 25g Kylesku (41)
1 x 10g Inverewe (20)
1 x 10g Tulip (58)
1 x 25g Rowanberry (21)

Inverewe colourway:

1 x 25g Inverewe (20)
1 x 25g Tulip (58)
1 x 25g Rowanberry (21)
1 x 10g Morangie Forest (54)
1 x 25g Applecross (25)
1 x 10g Kylesku (41)
1 x 25g Farr Bay (02)
1 x 25g Cockle (61)
1 x 25g Dornoch Firth (01)

Morangie Forest colourway:

1 x 25g Morangie Forest (54)
1 x 25g Applecross (25)
1 x 25g Kylesku (41)
1 x 25g Inverewe (20)
1 x 25g Tulip (58)
1 x 25g Rownanberry (21)
1 x 25g Farr Bay (02)
1 x 25g Cockle (61)
1 x 25g Dornoch Firth (01)