The Orbits Hat features the same colourwork pattern as the Orbits sweater, which was the fourth design in my Einaudi Collection – knitwear patterns inspired by pieces of music written by Ludovico Einaudi. The patterns capture the mysterious, repetitive yet delicate essence of the music.

SAMPLE
The wearer is 5’10” / 178cm with a 23.5” / 59 cm head circumference. The sample has been worked in size 4, without modification, giving 7” / 17.5 cm of negative ease at the headband and 0.5” / 1.5 cm of negative ease in the colourwork.

SIZING GUIDE
The accessory is written in sizes 1 (2, 3, 4) to fit both children and adults. Roughly speaking, the sizes have been graded to fit actual head circumferences of 18 (20, 22, 24)” / 45 (50, 55, 60) cm but the sizes are flexible; choose a size with more negative ease for a tighter fit or choose a size with less negative ease at the headband (and even positive ease at the colourwork) for a more slouched fit.
Hat Circumference at the Colourwork: 16.25 (19.75, 19.75, 23)“ / 41 (49, 49, 57.5) cm.

GAUGE
Using 4mm / US size 6 needles, or needle size required to meet gauge, 22 stitches over 28 rounds in both stockinette stitch and stranded colourwork, blocked, creates a 4x4”/10x10cm square.
Ribbed circumferences assume you are working 6.5 sts per 1” / 2.5 cm.

YARN
The sample has been worked using two fingering-weight yarns held double:
MC: The Urban Purl’s BFL Decadence base (55% BFL / 45% Silk; 400m / 438yds per 100g).
CC: Botanical Yarn’s Superwash Fingering base (75% Superwash Merino / 25% Nylon; 425m / 465yds per 100g).
Gauge can also be achieved working with DK weight yarn.

YARDAGE (includes ~10% excess)
Using fingering weight yarn held double:
MC: 204 (261, 266, 307) m / 223 (285, 291, 336) yds / 51 (65, 67, 77) g.
CC: 97 (116, 116, 135) m / 106 (127, 127, 148) yds / 24 (29, 29, 34) g.

Using DK weight yarn:
MC: 109 (140, 143, 164) m / 120 (153, 156, 180) yds / 37 (47, 48, 66) g.
CC: 52 (62, 62, 73) m / 57 (68, 68, 79) yds / 19 (21, 21, 25) g.

TOOLS & NOTIONS
4mm / US size 6 circular needles (or needle size required to meet gauge)
3.25mm / US size 3 circular needles (or needle size 1-3 sizes smaller than gauge needle)
1 marker
scrap yarn
tapestry needle to weave in ends

SKILLS REQUIRED
-long tail cast on
-joining and working in the round
-half-twisted ribbing
-working the left lifted increase
-reading colourwork charts
-working stranded colourwork with two colours
-working K2tog and SSK decreases