Sambucus

This simple colourwork hat was inspired by the elderberry (lat. Sambucus Nigra). In spring one can collect its tiny white flowers to make a fragrant syrup and in the early autumn its dark berries can be used to prepare delicious juice or jelly, which for centuries has been used in traditional medicine as a fever remedy. The chart included here is for a purple “berry” colourway, but you might choose to swap Gloamin’ for Garth to knit an elderflower hat instead. If you work stranded colourwork with both hands, you might choose to swap your yarns around with every second panel, to retain the effect of the ‘dominant’ shade.

Yarn
Kate Davies Designs Milarrochy Tweed (70% wool; 30% mohair; 100m / 109yds per 25g ball). 1 ball of each of the following shades:
A Hirst
B Gloamin’

Needles and notions
40cm / 16in below gauge-size circular needle.
40cm / 16in gauge-size circular needle.
Gauge-size needle(s) of your preferred type for working small circumferences.
Stitch marker.
Tapestry needle.

Gauge
28 sts and 34 rounds to 10cm / 4in over colourwork on gauge-size needle. Gauge was achieved with 3.25mm / US 3 needle.

Sizing
This hat is designed as a neatly-fitting beanie. But if you wish to make it more slouchy, add in another pattern repeat by knitting rounds 23-28 of the chart once more.
One size to fit head circumference: 51-56cm / 20-22in
Hat circumference (unstretched): 54.5cm / 21½in
Height from brim to crown: 22cm / 8¾in

Pattern notes
This hat is knitted in the round from the bottom up, following a colourwork chart. Chart is read from right to left throughout.