This stranded knit hat was created for Fair Isle and color selection workshops at a local fiber festival. The pattern includes three variations on the same design:

• The first includes eight colors and many of the design elements from Fair Isle knitting.
• The second is simplified to four colors, while still including the Fair Isle inspiration.
• The third hat is four colors and downsized to a small size.

Worksheets are included with the color charts to allow for personalized color selection. Have fun being your own designer!

Because this pattern was created for two knitting workshops, it includes extra information about color selection, creative inspiration and yarn suppliers. There are also links for how to obtain complete color cards for both the Palette and Spindrift lines which are very helpful for color selection.

Recommended Yarn: Jamieson’s of Shetland Spindrift (200+ colors) or KnitPicks’ Palette (150 colors) fingering weight yarn. These two yarns are suggested for the eight color option due to the large number of color choices, but if you have a lot of scrap yarn available, this can work too.

Level: Intermediate and able to read a basic color chart.

Gauge: Body colorwork = 7.75 stitches per inch and 8.5 rows per
inch.

Full Size (after light blocking): Seven repeats of the charts results in a 22” circumference and 9” height. Swatch carefully and adjust needle size to reach desired sizing.

Small Size: This size removes one flower repeat and skips the top diamond band This will be twenty fewer stitches at the cast on and with the same gauge will result in a 19” circumference and 7.5” height.