Buy the I Smell Snow hat and the Coffee With My Oxygen Cowl together and get a 20% discount. (Discount automatically applied at checkout)

I Smell Snow is a traditional Fair Isle beanie with a bit of a twist – quite literally. From its twisted rib brim, up to its gently twisting and rippling crown, there are loads of small details that add interest to the design.

At its heart though, is some lovely and simple colourwork. With no long floats and an 8-stitch repeat, the Fair Isle panel of I Smell Snow makes a great introduction to knitting stranded colourwork hats. And while the crown may look fancy, it’s created using only the most basic of decreases.

Key information

I Smell Snow is knitted in the round using 4ply/fingering weight yarn. The pattern uses the Fair Isle technique, where you work with more than one colour on each row.

It’s easier than it sounds; you just knit a few stitches with one colour, then switch to another, carrying the yarns behind your work. The yarn that’s not in use creates a “float” behind your work. Sounds fancy, but that’s just the term for the horizontal length of yarn that travels between the stitches in each colour. Tin Can Knits have a great blog explaining more.

I Smell Snow is all about simple colourwork. This technique only uses two colours a row, so you won’t get yourself in a massive tangle. And with a short pattern repeat, there are no long floats to worry about.

The pattern has instruction for three sizes – Child, Teen/Small Adult, and Large Adult. Instructions are written as “Child (Teen/Small Adult, Large Adult)”, so be sure you’re looking at the right instructions for your size.

Suggested yarn: The samples are knitted in Marina Skua Mendip 4ply (150m/164yd per 50g skein) on her Sunny (lambswool) base, in the colours Sky, Fox, Teal, and Beech. If you want to substitute yarn, then I’d recommend a “woolly” 4ply/fingering weight, as they have a bit of grip which makes them easier for colourwork.

Suggested needles (and notions): 3mm (US 2.5) and 3.25mm (US 3) 40cm (16in) circular needles and double pointed needles, or long circular for magic loop, stitch marker, tapestry needle.

Gauge: 24 sts and 30 rows to 10cm (4in), measured over colourwork, knit in the round.

Picking a size:
The I Smell Snow hat is designed to be worn with around 5cm (2in) of negative ease. Pick a size based on your actual head circumference: the hat itself will come up slightly smaller than this to ensure a close and snuggly fit.

To fit head circumference
Large Adult: 58-62cm (23.5-25in)
Teen/Small Adult: 55-58cm (22-23.5in)
Child: 50-54cm (19.5-21.5in)

Yarn requirements:

Large Adult
MC (Sky): 96m (105yds), CC1 (Beech): 37m (41yds), CC2 (Fox): 16m (18yds), CC3 (Teal): 12m (13yds)
Teen/Small Adult
MC (Sky): 85m (93yds), CC1 (Beech): 33m (36yds) CC2 (Fox): 14m (16yds), CC3 (Teal): 10m (11yds)
Child
MC (Sky): 80m (88yds), CC1(Beech): 31m (34yds), CC2 (Fox): 7m (8yds), CC3 (Teal): 8m (9yds)

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