I designed this hat for my daughter Ciara – she likes strong patterns/colours and ribbed hats so I chose a graphic design which is a traditional Shetland pattern from Fetlar (possibly based on a Norwegian pattern), the pattern resembles an Escher style optical illusion. (Ciara is an Irish name – pronounced ‘KEER-rah’)

As this is my first pattern, I wanted the project to be as local to Skye as possible. I love the colours that local wool dyers, Kirsty & Simon of Shilasdair Yarns, achieve with natural dyes - their palette ranges across strong and vibrant to delicate, gentle shades created from botanicals gathered here on Skye.

Ciara’s hat is knitted in Shilasdair Coara Fingering/ 4 ply yarn, it uses 2 colours – main (MC) and contrast (CC), and there are 3 options for the ribbing on the brim.The crown is also ribbed - the decreases adding another texture to the design.

The brim options are:

• a shorter rib for a close fitting beanie.
• a longer rib for a little slouch, or to be worn with the brim turned up.
• either length brim can be made in either MC or CC according to your preference, with an optional contrasting band at the cast on.

The hat is knitted in the round on 40 cm circular needles (or DPNs if you prefer), using DPNs on the crown as the stitches decrease in number.

Size:
Measurements given for contrast band brim
Height and width across widest section:
Small (to fit 51 cms / 20 ins) – 19 cms / 7.5 ins x 23.25 cms / 9 ins
Medium (to fit 56 cms / 22 ins) – 22 cms / 8.5 ins x 25 cms / 10 ins
Large (to fit 61 cms / 24 ins) – 23 cms / 9 ins x 28 cms / 11 ins

Guage
Please check your tension as I am a tight knitter.

Yarn

Kit is available from Shilasdair Yarns for Coara Fingering / 4ply

MC - 40 g = 162 m / 177 yds
CC - 40 g Contrast Colour = 162 m /177 yds

This is based on the largest size/longer brim option so will be enough yarn to knit any of the 3 size options - small and medium will require less yarn.

Samples shown are made using:
Indigo medium (medium blue) & undyed
Madder (bright orange) & undyed
Indigo & Tansy light (green) & undyed
Indigo dark (dark blue) & indigo light (light blue)
Meadowsweet (yellow) & undyed

You can substitute another fingering weight or 4 ply yarn that gives you the required tension.