This classic Fair Isle colour work beanie can be knit over and over in different colour schemes for radically different looks. The pattern calls for five colours but you can work it in as little as two or (almost) as many as you like. It can be a great way to use up scraps. Modification notes are provided, as are colour-your-own versions of the charts.
Knit in sport-weight yarn for extra cosiness and a faster knitting time or in fingering-weight for a lighter option.
Named after Glendhu Forest which is situated between Lawrence and Waipori in Otago, Aotearoa NZ.

This pattern includes directions for three sizes. Small fits a head approximately 50cm (20”) in circumference. Medium fits a 55cm (22”) head circumference, and Large fits a 60cm (24”) head circumference.

Materials

Sport-weight version:

• Vintage Purls superstar Sport Edition (70% N.Z. Polwarth, 20% Tussah Silk, 10% N.Z. Black Merino, 256 metres per 100g skein), 5 colours: colour A – 30g/77m, colour B, C, D, & E – 20g/51m each.
• 3.75mm, 40cm circular needle or size that gives you gauge. Also double point needles or a long circular for magic loop in the same size.
• 3.25mm, 40cm circular needle for the ribbed band (or a needle two sizes smaller than the needle you’re are using for the body of the hat.)

Fingering-weight version:

• Vintage Purls Tannahill (100% N.Z. Merino, 396 metres per 100g skein), 5 colours: 15g/60m of each colour should be ample.
• 3.50mm, 40cm circular needle or size that gives you gauge. Also double point needles or a long circular for magic loop in the same size.
• 3.00mm, 40cm circular needle for the ribbed band (or a needle two sizes smaller than the needle you’re are using for the body of the hat.)

Both versions:

A stitch marker to indicate the beginning of the round. You may find it useful to have 7 other stitch markers to divide sections of the crown.

Gauge

Sport-weight version:

26 stitches and 32 rows in 10cm (4”) in blocked stranded stocking stitch on larger needle.

Fingering-weight version:

28 stitches and 32 rows in 10cm (4”) in blocked stranded stocking stitch on larger needle.