About this design
Last year I was lucky enough to have a magical holiday in Tasmania (Australia). I went in November, towards the end of springtime, and the countryside was in gorgeous bloom. The roadside verges were resplendent with wildflowers and colourful perennials that had escaped from gardens. Azaleas and rhododendrons glowed with colour and the silver foliage of gum trees contrasted beautifully with every shade of green that you could imagine. After driving around all day taking in the splendour of nature, I spent my evenings tinkering with the design that has ultimately become the Nothing But Flowers Beanie.

There is nothing I love more than an unusual texture stitch, and the Aster Stitch used in the body of this Beanie is a lovely stitch for providing not just texture, but also bouncy depth to the knitted fabric - a depth that will keep your head cosy and warm when the temperature starts to plummet. I’ve paired the Aster Stitch section with a smaller, tweaked version of the stitch that I have called Bud Stitch.

This design is perfect for using up bits and pieces from your stash for the contrast colour. You might even decide to take the plunge and make a Magic Ball for your contrast colour (go on, you know you want to ☺). Alternatively, you can use up your left over multi-dyed yarns to create your own gorgeous array of flowers.

Note: This is a Magic Ball Friendly Pattern. Please read the free accompanying information booklet “Magic Ball Musings” for guidance on how to construct a Magic Ball. The Construction Notes also include suggestions for the best type of Magic Ball for this pattern.

Please visit the capitalKNITS Ravelry store to check out my other Magic Ball Friendly Patterns.

Size
This is a snug fitting beanie, which can be given a more slouchy fit by extending the length of the crown section. I’ve included notes in the pattern on where and how to do this.

Small - To fit head circumference of approximately 53.5 cm/21 ins. Finished circumference equals 48.5 cm/19 ins. Design includes approximately 5 cm/2 ins negative ease. Finished length from crown to below the ear is 19.5 cm/7 ¾ ins.

Medium - To fit head circumference of approximately 56 cm/22 ins. Finished circumference equals 50 cm/20 ins. Design includes approximately 5 cm/2 ins negative ease. Finished length from crown to below the ear is 21 cm/8 ¼ ins.

Large - To fit head circumference of approximately 58.5cm/23 ins. Finished circumference equals 53 cm/21 ins. Design includes approximately 5 cm/2 ins negative ease. Finished length from crown to below the ear is 23.5 cm/9 ¼ ins.

Tension
22 st x 32 rows over 10 cm/4 inches in Aster Stitch knitted in the round using 4.00 mm (US size 6, UK size 8) needles and wet blocked. Blocking your swatch is important because the Bud Stitch and Aster Stitch sections will loosen up a little after blocking. A reasonable match for tension is important for this pattern in order to ensure a good fit. Please move up or down a needle size and swatch one more time if your gauge is significantly different. You may find that you use more or less yarn if your gauge is significantly different.

Yarn
Any double knit/8 ply yarn that knits to the tension gauge. Two contrasting colours are required, one of which (the contrast colour) could be a Magic Ball.

All sizes
Main Colour - approx 95 m/104 yds (this is approximately a 50g ball of yarn)
Contrast Colour - approx 95 m/104 yds (this is approximately a 50g ball of yarn)

You will have some leftover yarn, particularly for the two smaller sizes … perhaps you can incorporate this surplus yarn into a future Magic Ball ☺.

Needles
4.00 mm (US size 6, UK size 8) double pointed needles or one 40 cm/6 ins circular needle or two 61 cm/24 ins circular needles or one 80 cm/32 ins or 100 cm/40 ins circular needle or a combination of these needles.

Notions
Tapestry/darning needle.
Stitch marker.

Pattern
This pattern includes written and charted instructions as well as links to video tutorials (produced by other people) for most of the techniques used in the design.

Questions?
Please send all questions to capitalKNITS@icloud.com.