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Cozy Sideline Knit Balaclava

Whether you’re cheering from the bleachers, heading out for a crisp morning walk, or just craving an extra layer of cozy, the Cozy Sideline Knit Balaclava has you covered… literally! It’s part hood, part cowl, and all warm, and now it comes in five sizes from Toddler to Adult Oversized, so the whole crew can bundle up together.

The magic is in the yarn. You hold two worsted weight color-changing yarns together on big needles, which makes it a quick knit and creates a tweed-like fabric full of shifting color. Pair two different colorways and no two balaclavas will ever look quite the same.

The stitches are simple on purpose, so the yarn does all the work and you get to relax and watch the colors blend.

What You’ll Love About This Pattern
Five sizes: Toddler, Child, Teen/Adult S, Adult M/L, and Adult Oversized
Two yarns held together for a squishy, tweed-like fabric
Quick to knit on US 10 needles
Simple broken rib texture that lets the color shine
Customizable height for a roomier hood or a closer fit
Ribbed casing with an i-cord drawstring for an adjustable fit around the face
Video tutorials for every section of the pattern

Pattern Format and Support
Written instructions with stitch counts throughout
Schematic with measurements for all five sizes
Special Stitches section for ssk, flat ssk, and sssk
13 video tutorials, from the basics (knit stitch, purl stitch, long-tail cast-on, how to tink, how to add a lifeline) to step-by-step walkthroughs of the cast-on and ribbing, face opening, body, top shaping, and i-cord and casing

Pattern Details
Designer: Marly Bird
Craft: Knitting
Project Type: Balaclava (hood and cowl)

Sizes: Toddler (Child, Teen/Adult S, Adult M/L, Adult Oversized); sample shown is Adult M/L

Ribbing Circumference: 17¼ (19, 21½, 26½, 30¾)“ 44 (48.5, 54.5, 67.5, 78) cm around head, before face opening

Height: 10½ (14, 16¾, 19½, 22¾)“ 26.5 (35.5, 42.5, 49.5, 58) cm, customizable

Yarn: Red Heart Roll With It Melange (100% acrylic, 389 yds / 356 m, 5½ oz / 150 g), CYCA #4 worsted; sample in Tabloid, 1 (1, 1, 1, 2) balls, and Curtain Call, 1 (1, 1, 1, 2) balls, held together throughout

Needles: US 10 (6 mm) 16” and 24” circular needles and a set of 5 double pointed needles, or size to obtain gauge

Gauge: 13 sts and 20 rows = 4” (10 cm) in Broken Rib pattern

Construction: Worked bottom up, in the round at the neck, then back and forth in rows around the face and top of head; casing picked up and knit at the end

Skills You’ll Practice
Knitting with two strands held together
Long-tail cast-on
P1 x K1 rib and broken rib, in the round and flat
Decreases: ssk, sssk, k2tog, p2tog, p3tog
Short rows to shape the top panel
Picking up stitches
Eyelets
I-cord
Whip stitch finishing

Perfect For
Game days and chilly sidelines
Matching family sets, from toddler to grownup
Winter walks, school pickup, and errands
Holiday gifting for every age on your list

⚠️ Safety note: Leave the drawstring off for very small children. The Toddler size is written without the drawstring eyelets for exactly this reason.

Get the Pattern

The Cozy Sideline Knit Balaclava is available here as a downloadable PDF pattern.

Grab two yarns that make you happy, cast on, and watch the magic happen. Happy knitting!