This stranded hat is bright, bold, busy and just the kind of project I enjoy. The stranded colourwork covers all of the hat, including the crown shaping, but it doesn’t require any particular skills. Just work the decreases in the same place along the round, so that the decrease lines become a feature of the design.

Yarn
Jamieson’s Shetland Spindrift 4ply (100% wool), 105m/115yds per 25g ball, in the following shades:
Yarn A: Steel (320); 1 ball
Yarn B: Jade (787); 1 ball
Yarn C: Apricot (435); 1 ball
Yarn D: Buttermilk (179); 1 ball
Yarn E: Spice (526); 1 ball

Needles and Accessories
Set of five 3.5mm (US 4/UK 9 or 10) DPNS or circular needles 40cm/15¾in long, or your preferred needles for knitting small circumferences in the round, or the size needed to achieve correct
tension
Stitch markers

Sizes
One size: to fit an average adult’s head size
To fit head circumference: 56-60cm/22-23½in
Actual hat circumference: 50cm/19½in

Skills
Casting on, knit, purl, decreasing, working in the round, reading a chart, stranded colourwork, casting off

Tension
24 sts and 24 rows to 10 x 10cm/4 x 4in over st st, using 3.5mm needles, after washing and blocking