The Sparkesykkel Balaklava is knit from the bottom up, starting from the neck and working up towards the hat. It is worked in the round on circular needles until the face opening, which is worked flat. Stitches are cast off in the middle of the balaclava to create the face opening. The face opening starts narrower at the chin, and decreases are worked on every right side row to widen the opening towards the forehead, creating a trapeze shape. When the face opening is finished, the work is connected to the round again, and a hat is worked in the round with decreases, using DPNs or magic loop as the circumference decreases. One needle size is used throughout the pattern.

The gauge is intended to be tight for the yarn you are working with to create a more wind-resistant fabric. Work a gauge swatch in stockinette stitch to find the needle size that gives you the correct stitch gauge. Trouble-shooting for a different row gauge is described in the pattern.

If you want to knit a striped balaclava, you can find additional instructions at the end of the pattern.

Sizes
Baby (Toddler) Child (Junior/Adult S) Adult M (Adult L)

Head circumference
44-47 (48-50) 50-53 (53-55) 55-58 (58-61)cm

Finished circumference
39 (43) 45 (48) 50 (53)cm

Finished length
28 (32) 35 (40) 43 (46)cm

Gauge (after blocking)
16 stitches and 23 rows per 10x10cm

Suggested needles
4-6mm circular needle, 40cm and
4-6mm DPNs or circular needle, 80cm

Suggested yarn
100 (100) 100 (150) 150 (150)g of Drops Nepal (50g = 75m) held together with 25 (25) 25 (50) 50 (50)g of Drops Brushed Alpaca Silk (25g = 140m)

Or 100 (100) 100 (150) 150 (150)g Sandnes Garn Fritidsgarn (50g = 70m)

Or Aran + Lace or Bulky weight yarn, approximately 120 (130) 150 (170) 190 (210)m of yarn.

The black sample is knit in Drops Nepal held together with Drops Brushed Alpaca Silk, both in the color Black.

The striped sample is knit in Sandnes Garn Fritidsgarn in the colors Jelly Bean Green 8236 and Pink Lilac 4813.