Arctic Cottongrass by Amanda Bell

Arctic Cottongrass

Knitting
December 2014
Worsted (9 wpi) ?
16 stitches and 18 rows = 4 inches
in Stranded colorwork on larger needles
US 7 - 4.5 mm
US 8 - 5.0 mm
16 (18, 21, 24)"/ 40.5 (45.5, 53.5, 61)cm at brim
English
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Sizes 16 (18, 21, 24)“/ 40.5 (45.5, 53.5, 61)cm at brim; samples shown in sizes 18”/45.5cm and 21”/53.5cm, each worn with about 1”/2.5cm negative ease.

Gauge 16 sts and 22 rounds = 4”/10cm in garter stitch on smaller needles; 16 sts and 18 rounds = 4”/10cm in stranded colorwork pattern on larger needles

Materials

  • Malabrigo Rios - 100% superwash merino wool; 210yd/192m per 100g skein; MC: 1 skein (Toddler sample shows Paris Night; adult sample shows Jupiter); CC: 1 skein (Toddler sample shows Sunset; adult sample shows Sand Bank)
  • US 7/4.5mm: 16”/40cm circular needle
  • US 8/5mm: 16”/40cm circular needle and/or DPNs (see Notes) or sizes needed to obtain gauge
  • 3 stitch markers
  • Darning needle
  • Pom pom maker and sharp scissors, optional
  • Crochet hook, optional

Notes
A Norwegian-inspired stranded snowflake motif circles this cozy hat, while a garter stitch brim with short-row earflaps keeps you warm. Then there’s a Latvian braid for interest, and nested crown decreases that form a big meta-snowflake at the top. To finish, add your choice of a pom pom and/or braids as you see fit. The hat borrows its name from a sedge common throughout the colder regions of the Northern Hemisphere, including Scandinavia. The spherical, fluffy fruiting bodies of Arctic Cottongrass bear a striking resemblance to pompoms (or vice-versa).

You’ll need needles for working a small circumference in the round. A short circular needle is recommended in the materials section, but a long circular for using the Magic Loop method or double-pointed needles will work equally well.