Rugged Knits Pattern Highlight: Passing Glacier
I've had colorwork on the brain lately, planning for my upcoming class at Knit Fit in Seattle, so this week I'm going to highlight Passing Glacier, a worsted weight hat that's relatively quick to knit with a big payoff. This is a very toasty hat that will keep you comfy in the coldest weather.
CONSTRUCTION
- This hat starts off with a provisional cast-on so that you can work a soft inner brim. I used Road to China Light, a sport weight luxury yarn for mine. Once you've completed the inside of the brim you'll switch to the contrast color of your main yarn and work a turning round, followed by the outside of the brim, worked in wide vertical stripes. Then you'll remove your provisional cast-on and join the live inner brim stitches to the outer brim, making a cozy, clean doubled brim with a secret soft layer inside.
- The rest of the hat is worked following color charts to get a gorgeous swirling stitch pattern.
- The crown decreases are incorporated into the color pattern.
FIT
- This is a snug beanie that comes in three sizes to fit ladies and gents.
YARN
I used Istex Lettlopi for the main yarn and Fibre Company Road to China Light for the inside-brim yarn. I love that Lettlopi is incredibly warm and insulating, and it has that lovely bit of a halo too. Some folks can find it a bit scratchy, so I opted for a luxurious super soft yarn for the inside of the brim.
TIPS FOR SUBSTITUTING
- Stick with a hearty wool yarn for warmth, durability, and easy colorwork. Wool has good elasticity, which is more forgiving in colorwork than plant fibres, silk, or alpaca.
- For a rustic, tweedy look, try one of my favorite worsted or aran yarns like Brooklyn Tweed Shelter, Imperial Yarn Columbia, or Cestari Traditional Two Ply.
- Use up your luxury sock yarn leftovers for the inside of the brim.
- Try working this up in your favorite hand dyed worsted for a more watercolor look.
MY FAVORITE DETAIL
I love the secret soft inner brim and I'm particularly proud of the crown.
GENERAL TIPS
Be sure to use colors that have a strong contrast to make your color pattern pop. If you're not sure how well the colors contrast, take a picture of them together in black and white - if they still have a strong contrast without color, you're on the right track.
For general colowork tips, check out the blog post I wrote for VeryShannon.com.
Be sure to use the hashtags #RuggedKnits, #PassingGlacierHat, and #AndreaRangelKnits when you post pics of your Passing Glacier projects!
PATTERN DETAILS
Finished Measurements
19.25 (20.75, 22.5)” (49 52.5, 57 cm) head circumference and 7.5” (19 cm) long.
Shown in size 20.75” (52.5 cm)
Yarn
Worsted weight (#4 medium):
Main Color (MC): 67 (72, 78) yd (61 66, 71 m).
Contrast Color 1 (CC1): 41 (45, 48) yd (37 41, 44 m).
Shown here: Ístex Lettlopi (100% wool; 109 yd 100 m/50 g): colors #0053 Acorn Heather (MC), 1 skein; #0054 Light Ash Heather (CC1), 1 skein.
Sportweight (#2 Fine): 26 (28, 30) yd (24 25, 27 m).
Shown here: The Fibre Company Road to China Light (65% baby alpaca, 15% silk, 10% camel, 10% cashmere; 159 yd 145 m/50 g): color #710 Riverstone (CC2), 1 skein
Needles
Size U.S. 4 (3.5 mm): 16” (40 cm) circular (cir).
Size U.S. 5 (3.75 mm): 16” (40 cm) circular (cir) and set of 4 or 5 double-pointed (dpn).
Size U.S. 7 (4.5 mm): 16” (40 cm) circular (cir) and set of 4 or 5 double-pointed (dpn).
Adjust needle sizes if necessary to obtain the correct gauge.
Notions
Markers (m); size U.S. E-4 (3.5 mm) crochet hook; waste yarn; tapestry needle.
Gauge
20 sts and 22 = 4” (10 cm) over chart using largest needles