Need to know…​

The Babes balaclava is knit from top to bottom, nearly entirely in broken rib stitch pattern. Starting with knitting a rectangle for the crown of the head, stitches are picked up on two sides of the rectangle, and knit back and forth (for the length of the head). Next you will start the neck section, firstly by working some decreases and increases to shape the neck, before casting on extra stitches and joining the round. The neck section is knit in the round in rib stitch pattern, and binding off with italian bind off technique. Finally, stitches are picked up around the face hole and the face section is knit in the round in rib stitch pattern, before using italian bind off again to finish.

The balaclava can be made in 12 hours (ish!).​

Sizes​
There are 2 sizes, 1= medium adult, 2= large adult.
Sizes are shown in the pattern like so: 1(2)

Need to have…​

Needles etc.​
7mm circular 40/60 cm​
6mm circular 40/60 cm​
Tapestry needle​
1 stitch marker

Yarn​
2 balls of Drops Air yarn (​50g=150m), 2 strands are held together.

Substitutes: Any similar super soft aran yarn, with 2 strands held together e.g. 2 balls of Wool and the Gang Feeling Good Yarn (50g=130m). Or could use one strand of chunky yarn that matches the gauge below.

Note! I’ve also made lots of these with 1.5 balls Wool and the Gang Alpachino Merino (100g=100m) - this is chunkier than the gauge so I adapt by doing 2 less rows in the main body and 6 (not 7 rows around the face hole). Its a chunkier version of the balaclava but looks good! See ‘Extra bits’ section at end of pattern for examples!

Tension square: with 7mm needles, 12 stitches and 17 rows makes 10x10cm​

See ‘Extra bits’ section at end of pattern for some colour ideas.