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Whit’s Knits: Spring Hoodie
March 6, 2011

The Materials
• 4 skeins (3 skeins of Main Color and 1 skein of Contrast Color) of Koigu’s KPM, 100% merino wool. We used #2390.5 for the Main Color and #1145 for the Contrast Color.
• A US size #6, 20 inch circular needle.
• 2 US size #6 double pointed needles.

The Pattern
Gauge
19 stitches = 3 inches in stockinette stitch

Finished Size
One size fits all.

Begin
With the Main Color, cast 168 stitches onto the 20 inch circular needle.
Place a marker and join for working in the round, being careful to not twist the stitches.
Knit every round until piece measures 9 inches from the cast on edge (unrolled).

Shape Opening
Note: The rest of the hood will be worked back and forth in rows, turning the work between each row.
Row 1 (right side): Remove the stitch marker, bind off 26 stitches, knit to end of row. (142 stiteches)
Row 2 (wrong side): Bind off 3 stitches, purl to end of row. (139 stitches)
Row 3: Bind off 3 stitches, knit to end of row. (136 stitches)
Row 4: Bind off 2 stitches, purl to end of row. (134 stitches)
Row 5: Bind off 2 stitches, knit to end of row. (132 stitches)
Row 6: Purl.
Row 7: K2, ssk, knit to last 4 stitches, k2tog, k2. (2 stitches decreased)
Repeat Rows 6 and 7 eight more times. (114 stitches)
Next Row: Purl.

Shape Hood
Row 1 (right side): K 56, make 1 right (m1R), place a marker, k2, make 1 left (m1L), knit to end of row. (116 stitches)
Row 2 (wrong side): Purl.
Row 3: Knit to marker, m1R, slip marker, k2, m1L, knit to end of row. (2 stitches increased)
Repeat Rows 2 and 3 four more times. (126 stitches)
Work for 6 more inches in stockinette stitch, knitting the knit side and purling the purl side. End with a right side row.
Cut the yarn, leaving a 50 inch tail.

Graft the Hood
Divide the remaining stitches in half, pushing 63 of them toward one end of the needle and 63 of them toward the other end. Use the excess cable of the needle to clearly separate the two halves.

Thread the tail onto a tapestry needle and use the Kitchener Stitch to sew the two sides of the hood together.
Weave in the ends.

Knit Attached I-Cord
Now using the Contrast Yarn and the US #6 double pointed needles, cast on 4 stitches. For a very neat finish use a Provisional Cast On. (If this is too much for you, just cast on normally. You will sew the I-cord ends together at the end.)
With the right side facing, begin the Attached I-Cord at the right end (as if you were wearing the hood) of the 26 stitch bind off.

As you knit the I-Cord, pick up 1 stitch for every bound off stitch and 1 stitch for every row of the 18 rows of decreases. (23 stitches from point A to B)

Continue to knit the I-cord, picking up 3 stitches for every 4 rows between point B and C.
Also pick up 3 stitches for every 4 rows as you work your way around the hood, ending at the beginning of the decrease rows on the left side (from point C to D).
Now pick up 1 stitch for every decrease row (18 stitches) and 1 stitch for every bound off stitch (2 + 3 + 26 = 31 stitches).
If you used a Provisional Cast On, put the cast on stitches onto one of the double pointed needles and use the Kitchener Stitch to sew the ends together. (Otherwise, cast off the 4 stitches of the I-cord and sew the two ends together.)
Here is what you can expect your attached I-cord to look like:

Add a fun and colorful pom pom (we used some of our most colorful scraps) and you’ve got yourself a cheery spring hoodie!

Article originally appeared on Knitting Crochet Sewing Embroidery Crafts Patterns and Ideas! (http://www.purlbee.com/).