When I came across this colourwork pattern in andreakr’s fabulous book Alterknit, I immediately thought that it reminded me of my favourite mushroom, the Saffron Milk Cap.

One of my fondest memories from my childhood in Russia is mushroom picking with my family. The coolness of the dim, damp woods was somehow magical. I still remember how thrilling it was to be the first in the group to spot a mushroom. As a child, the prize at the end of the day was eating our armloads of mushrooms; as an adult, it’s the memories I cherish.

The Turkish name for it is Cintar. I don’t have any connections with Turkey (as far as I’m aware! ) but it sounds so much prettier and is easier to pronounce than the Russian name, ryzhik.

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This is a 3-in-1 pattern. There are options to make a regular beanie, slouchy cap or a cowl. The design is worked in two contrasting colours of light fingering yarn. In addition to the stranded knitting, a double brim makes the hat especially warm; the cowl is doubled too, throughout, for maximum warmth.

YARN
Light fingering weight woollen-spun yarn which gives you the required gauge and approx. 280 m / 295 yd per 50 g.
Cowl: C1 - 410 m / 450 yd; C2 - 85 m / 95 yd.
Hat (regular fit): C1 - 150 m / 165 yd; C2 - 80 m / 90 yd
Hat (slouchy fit): C1 - 200 m / 220 yd, including pom-pom – 250 m / 275 yd; C2 - 85 m / 95 yd.
Please note that yardage is an estimate.
Shown here: JC Rennie Supersoft lambswool 4ply
Cowl: C1 - Atlantic Spray, C2 - Marble Gemstone
Hat (regular fit): C1 - Silver, C2 - Heather
Hat (slouchy fit): C1 - Blueprint, C2 - Stardust

NEEDLES
2 x Circular needles 60 cm / 24” long or shorter (for cowl), in size needed to obtain the correct gauge. (One of them will be needed for 3-needle BO)
Circular needle 40 cm / 16” long (for hat), in size needed to obtain the correct gauge.
Suggested size: 3.5 mm / US 4.
Needle(s) suitable for working small circumferences in the round in main needle size.

GAUGE
31 sts x 31 rows = 10 x 10 cm / 4” x 4” in colourwork after
blocking.
26 sts x 39 rows = 10 x 10 cm / 4 x 4” in stocking stitch
after blocking.

SIZES
Cowl: one size.
Hat: one size, would fit 54 - 60 cm / 21.25” - 23.5” head
circumference.

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS
Cowl: circumference - 58 cm / 22”; width - 18.5 cm / 7.25”
Hat: circumference - 46.5 cm / 18.25”; height (regular) - 23.5 cm / 9.25”; (slouchy) - 25 cm / 9.75”

SKILL LEVEL
Adventurous beginner
Techniques used: two-colour stranded knitting, provisional CO, decreasing, 3-needle BO.

The pattern includes links to video tutorials on 3-needle BO and Sewing the Brim to the Inside of the Hat.