Coronavirus Challenge Hat

This pattern is free, but if you use it, I ask you to make a donation to a local charity or service that will help to fight coronavirus in your part of the world.

The motif represents the image of the virus itself, with a huge cross through its nucleus, on the top of the crown. But it is not so obviously a virus image that you won’t want to wear it once we are through this pandemic.

It is not difficult to knit if you can already do colourwork knitting in the round. It uses only two colours at once, and would look super in a gradient yarn for the design on a plain background. The stranding across the back is never more than 6 stitches so there’s no need to weave in if you don’t want to. The awkward final rounds are all in one colour. It’s in the form of 8 segment-shaped panels, with the cross repeated on just 4 alternate panels. It’s a great stash-buster, which will be helpful if you are locked down or self-isolating (as am I).

You will need: 100 gms of fingering yarn in 2 colours: about 75 gms of your design colour (gradient if you have it) and about 25gms of your background colour. 2mm and 3mm needles, either DPNS or circular needles.

Do please share the pattern, post pictures of your project, let me know of any problems, enjoy the pattern and use it to keep a health worker warm and help fight coronavirus!