The Pacific Northwest is a truly unique place. The rugged cliffs and salty shores capture your love in an instant. A piece of your heart will always remain there once you live or even visit there. I purchased some yarn from Abundant Earth Fiber and was transported back to the time I lived in Washington in an instant. Though the yarn is rustic, it is incredibly soft. The texture allows stranding to take with all the ease of Icelandic wool but none of the scratchiness. I hope this hat captures the spirit of the place.
There are 2 versions of this hat. Make sure to read through the description of both in order to decide which style is right for you.

The Simple Version: Begins at the bottom (ribbed) part of the hat. You will work ribbing to desired length and then work the Fair Isle chart. This version uses only 2 skeins of yarn. In order to complete this version, you should be able to work in the round, work basic decreases, and work Fair Isle (stranded) in the round.

The Lined Version (shown in photo): This is the more advanced knit. The work is begun at the earflaps (worked in the round). Then stitches are cast on provisionally to create the body of the hat, both front and back. The lining is worked plainly in Stockinette stitch through the crown. Once the lining is complete, the provisional stitches and the earflap stitches are placed back on the working needle. The work resumes in the round for the outer layer of the beanie by continuing ribbing and then proceeding to the Fair Isle chart. This version uses 3 skeins of yarn. In order to complete this version, you should be able to do all techniques for the simple version and additionally be able to work “Make 1” and cast on provisionally with a crochet hook.

Sizes: Baby (Toddler, Child) (Adult Medium, Adult Large, Adult Extra Large) for a finished rough circumference of 12.5” (14.75”, 17.25”) (19.75”, 22.25”, 24.5”)/32 (37.5, 44) (50, 56.5, 62) cm.

This fit accommodates negative ease; if you are unable to get ease with your fabric, you may consider bumping up a size. Note that the extra large adult size is to accommodate natural/voluminous hair. Knitting for natural hair may need a size larger than you would typically choose given the head circumference; I recommend zero to positive ease for dense natural hair styles depending on the profile.

Yarn: You will need different amounts of yarn depending on if you will work the lined (shown) or unlined version.

Simple (unlined): 2 different-colored skeins (at 200 yards/180 meters) of heavy sock/light sport weight yarn.

Lined: 3 different-colored skeins (at 200 yards/180 meters) of yarn of heavy sock/light sport weight yarn.

Sample shown in Abundant Earth Fiber Saltwater in colorways Estuary, Ember, and Gray (for lining, not visible in this photo).
Needles: Size US 3/3.25 mm circular needles with a long (40”/100 cm) cable, or size needed to obtain gauge.

Gauge: Roughly 26 stitches and 32 rows = 4”/10 cm in Stockinette stitch (stranded in the round and blocked). Note that your fabric should be able to stretch so that the design’s negative ease is comfortable on the head.

Notions: Crochet hook and waste yarn (optional, if working fully lined version), spare double-point needles (optional, if working fully lined version), 8 - 18 regular stitch markers, 1 locking stitch marker, a tapestry needle and large balloon (for blocking, optional).

Techniques: Provisional cast on (optional, if working fully lined version), knitting in the round, basic increases and decreases, and stranded (Fair Isle) knitting.

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