Yorkshire Tam.

This tam celebrates the famous English county of Yorkshire, and the Yorkshire wool industry. The design includes iconic images of Yorkshire; stylized sheep: ruined abbeys, the White Rose of Yorkshire, and cricket symbols on the crown, all against a background of moorland. It uses wool spun and dyed in Yorkshire from small artisan producer Baa Ram Ewe, based in the wool city of Leeds, Yorkshire. This yarn, Pip Colourwork, in soft Northern landscape colours, has good stitch definition combined with a soft heathered finish. You can buy it at a 10% discount using a code given when you buy the pattern.

Materials.

Pip Colourwork pure wool yarn by Baa Ram Ewe 25 gm balls
in 7 colours:
Bishopthorpe (deep purple)
Chevin (soft green)
Bramley Baths (soft turquoise)
Coal (dark grey)
Viking (strong copper)
White Rose (white)
Rose Window (dark pink)

You’ll have plenty left over to make another one for a friend. Swap the colours around!

Skills needed:
Knit, Purl, Make 1, Centred Double Decrease (explained in this pattern), weaving in stranded yarn across the back, 2-handed knitting, knitting in round, reading a chart.

It is knitted in the round, starting with a ribbed brim and ending with an 8 (or 7)-segment crown using centred double decreases. It can be a beret, or beanie depending on how you block it and which of the 2 sizes you make. Despite its complex design and 7 colours, it follows the Fair Isle tradition of no more than 2 colours in use simultaneously, and there are no colour changes in decrease rounds, so it is reasonably simple to knit. The pattern provides two separate PDF files: detailed written knitting instructions and tips; and a full-colour chart.

It has been test knitted by Sue Watson, who made several useful comments about the colours, design and instructions, which have been incorporated into the pattern to ensure that it is accurate and fun to knit. Thanks Sue!