Knit Picks released a new yarn line called High Dessert. It comes in both a worsted and sport weight. They come in 12 beautiful colours you can choose from. It's made with 100% Shaniko Wool, completely manufactured in America. Each ball retails for $18.99 US.
The details ;
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Sport (298 yards/100 gram ball)
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Worsted (217 yards/100 gram ball)
I think these are perfect for any garments and accessory knits. I've been really eyeing knitting up the new Knit Picks Chalet collection with the worsted weight!
I decided to cast on a fun colorwork hat showing off some of the amazing colour combinations you could do with this range.
Getting Started;
-3 Skeins of Knit Picks High Desert for the sample I used ( Stargazing, Forge and Cottonwood)
-US 7 and 9 16" circular needles
-US 8 Double pointed needles
The next step is to pick out the size of hat you'd like to knit. I've created 3 sizes from adult small to adult large. This sample included in the blog post is for the adult small. If you'd like the other sizes you can purchase the paid for PDF.
Sizes: Adult Small, Adult Medium, Adult Large
To fit head 20.4, 21.6, 22.8 inches / 51.8, 54.8, 57.9 cm around
Abbreviations
BOR Beginning of round
CC Contrast Colour
CO Cast on
DPN Double pointed needle
K Knit
K2TOG Knit two stitches together
MC Main Colour
P Purl
PM Place marker
Okay, now you are all set and ready to cast on! Here are the instructions for the pattern.
INSTRUCTIONS:
With your smaller needle and 16" circular needles CO 102 stitches with long-tail cast-on or your preferred method of cast on. Place a stitch marker and join in the round. This will be your BOR stitch marker.
Round 1: *K2, P2; repeat this around, until you’ve reached 2.5 inches from your cast-on edge.
Knit 1 rounds in MC.
Work rounds 1-16 from the colour work chart. Once completed cut both CC2 and MC. The rest of the hat is knit in your CC1.
Knit every round in your MC until your piece measures 7 /17.7 cm from cast on edge if not already there after colorwork chart.
CHART
Crown Decreases:
Round 1: *K4, K2tog; Repeat from * around
Round 2: Knit all stitches
Round 3: *K3, K2tog; Repeat from * around
Round 4: Knit all stitches
Round 5: *K2, K2tog; Repeat from * around
Round 6: Knit all stitches
Round 7: *K1, K2tog; Repeat from * around
Round 8: Knit all stitches
Round 9: *K2tog; Repeat from * around
You will now have 17 stitches remaining.
Break yarn leaving about a 6-8 inch / 15.2-20.3 cm tail, and thread tail through remaining live stitches with a tapestry needle to close the gap and the top of the hat. Weave in the ends on the wrong side of the work and block your hat. This will help your colorwork and stitches relax. Once dry you can add a pompom if desired.