A companion piece to the Swallowtail cowl, this pattern celebrates the emperor swallowtail, South Africa’s largest butterfly.

Materials:
• One 4mm / US size 6 circular needle, 40cm / 16” in length, or size needed to meet the required gauge.
• One 3.5mm / US size 4 circular needle, 40cm / 16” in length, or two US sizes smaller than needle size used to obtain gauge.
• One 4mm / US size 6 circular needle, at least 80cm / 32” in length for magic loop or one set of 4mm / US size 6 DPNs, or size needed to meet the required gauge.
• Optional: 3 (3, 4, 4) stitch markers, one of which is used to mark the beginning of round.
• Tapestry needle for sewing in threads and blocking materials.
• For the short crown: DK weight yarn in four colours, approximately 70m (74m, 91m, 98m) / 77yds (81yds, 100yds, 107yds) of the main colour and approximately 36m (40m, 48m, 52m) / 39yds (44yds, 52yds, 57yds) of contrast colour 1 and 15m (15m, 20m, 20m) / 16yds (16 yds, 22yds, 22yds) of contrast colours 2 and 3.
For the tall crown: DK weight yarn in four colours, approximately 80m (86m, 106m, 114m) / 87yds (94yds, 116yds, 125yds) of the main colour and approximately 36m (40m, 48m, 52m) / 39yds (44yds, 52yds, 57yds) of contrast colour 1 and 15m (15m, 20m, 20m) / 16yds (16 yds, 22yds, 22yds) of contrast colours 2 and 3.
• The sample is shown in size 3 with a short crown and is worked in Elle Merino 100% superwash merino wool, 100m / 109yds per 100g in colourways White (main colour) and Black (contrast colour 1) and in leftover Malabrigo Rios - 100% Superwash Merino Wool, 192m / 210yds per 100g for contrast colours 2 and 3.
• Optional: Pom pom. Sample pom pom is a TOFT Alpaca pom pom, approximately 11cm / 4.5” in diameter, shown in colour Teal.

Gauge:
22 stitches and 30 rows = 10cm / 4” in stranded knitting, worked in the round and blocked. Working to gauge ensures that your knitted item’s size and yardage match those stated in the pattern.

Size:
Four sizes: 1 (2, 3, 4) – 38cm (41cm, 51cm, 55cm) / 15” (16”, 20”, 21.5”) in circumference, measured at the widest part of the hat. The hat with a short (tall) crown measures 19cm (22cm) / 7.5” (8.5”) from the crown to cast on edge. The hat is intended to be worn with 7.5cm – 12.5cm / 3” – 5” negative ease.

This pattern is recommended for intermediate knitters who have experience with small-circumference stranded colourwork, knitting from charts, and working in the round.

Link for a stranded ladder-back jacquard tutorial by Rebecca Diamond: https://whatareyoumakingnow.com/tutorials/stranded-ladder...