Rep on Ice
By Corrado Lark

The Needs:

• US 2 (2.75 mm) 24” circular needle. A stitch marker to mark the beginning of row.
• Color A: The Fiberists Audubon Sport 100% Superwash (114g (4 oz) / 385 yds) in the “Prehnite” colorway. Color B: The Fiberists Einstein Lace 70% Mohair/30% Nylon (57g (2 oz) / 550 yds) in the “Aquamarine” colorway.
• Gauge: 22 stitches and 38 rows in 4” of stockinette pattern (Act Two). You’re looking to get a similar gauge on both sides if using similar weight superwash wools. If using Mohair, don’t worry about that side’s gauge.
• Finished Dimensions: Small Messy-Bun Style Hat (Small Neckwarmer/Large Messy-Bun Style Hat, Medium Neckwarmer, Small Cowl). 8 ½ ( 10 ½” , 12” , 14 ½” ) wide.

The Notes:

You set up as if working 2-Color brioche for this form of double knitting.

This pattern is easily adapted into other weight yarns. Pick 2 similar weights and choose a needle one size down from what you normally would with that weight. With lace weight mohair, the halo lets you get away with it being a thinner yarn than Color A.

The Key, Stitches/Techniques Used:

Long-tail cast on, knit, purl, knit through the back loop, yarnover, slipping stitches as if to purl with the yarn in front or in back, knit two stitches together, standard bind off.

The Backstory:

I met the fiberists at Rhinebeck 2018, and was so excited to work with their product. They specialize in different fibers and use science for inspiration. I knew I had to do something different than any of my other patterns.

After playing around with their Mohair/Nylon yarn base, I came up with the idea to double knit a cowl/neckwarmer with that and their sport weight. The color combination reminded me of my childhood: sneaking to watch “Rugrats” and the episode ”Reptar on Ice”. My parents deemed Angelica too mean for many years, so I had to sneak it at a friends house. What I rebel I was!

The design uses no special cast on or bind off in an attempt to make double knitting more accessible. While you can work both colors at the same time, I worked each color separately throughout the pattern to get reverse stockinette with Color B. If you’ve done brioche stitch, this cowl is a piece of cake. And if you haven’t, it’s a good stepping stone on your way to brioche.

I later picked up the cast on edge and pulled the yarn to close one side and make a perfect hat. That technique was inspired by Brooklyn Boy Knits, and I’ve adapted the pattern either be a messy bun style hat or a cowl, with varying sizes for both listed.

Can’t wait to see what even more people knit up with this pattern! Special thanks to Kim Wilpon, a fantastic knitter and actor/model friend out here in the concrete jungle, and The Fiberists for pushing the envelope dying this mohair/nylon base. I’m all for innovation.