fair isle diamond pattern

When I was in middle school I joined the local ski club.  The Diamond Hill was the scariest and steepest hill.  I remember getting off the ski lift and heading right for a tree.  I managed to swerve in time, make it down to the ski lodge and ordered a hot chocolate.  I remember wearing a beanie with diamonds on it.  I have recreated this beanie in honor of my last time skiing, ever!

Read on for the free pattern!

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Skill Level → Intermediate with knowledge of fair isle knitting

Skills to know ↓

 

Need help? Check out this great book

Ultimate Knitting Bible

Yarn

White yarn → Hobby Lobby’s I Love This Yarn

I Love This Yarn

From me to you → a coupon from Hobby Lobby that does not expire

Blue Variegated Yarn → Malabrigo Rios in Azules

RIOSMALABR.AZULES.zoom.1.jpg

Needles

Knitpicks Caspian Options Short Interchangeable Circular Set

Size 7 and 8 needles with a 16″ cord and a gauge of 18 stitches per 4 inches for the Malabrigo yarn.  Check your gauge!

Product Image

Knitpicks: What Needles are right for you?

Related Post → The Blake Hat

baby hat knitting pattern

A Note About Fair Isle Knitting

I have learned everything I know about fair isle knitting from this book – 200 Fair Isle Motifs by Mary Jane Mucklestone.  Nearly every fair isle project I knit incorporates charts from this book.  Every fair isle technique I have learned has come from this book.  If you are going to attempt fair isle knitting for the first time, or if you are experienced in this knitting technique, either way this book is essential in my opinion.

200 fair isle motifs

Pattern

Assuming Aran weight yarn, 4″ = 18 stitches:  Gauge is important!  Swatch first or it may not fit.

For sizes child/teen/adult and size 7 needles,  cast-on 64/80/88 stitches.  Place marker and join in the round.

Brim

Knit 1, Purl 1 in the round for 1.5″ in variegated yarn for the brim.

Now begin the body of the hat.

Change to size 8 needle.

Knit 1 row, adding in additional stitches throughout the round to make the total stitches a multiple of 6.  For example, with this adult size hat, I cast on 88 stitches.  After knitting the brim, I added 2 more stitches in the knit row to make a total of 90 stitches, which are a multiple of 6.

Knit the colored part of chart until you are 2 inches from the length of the hat, ending approximately on the middle row.

earflap chart

Knit 1 row white

Knit 1 row variegated

Cut Variegated Yarn and pick up white

Continue knitting until the hat measures 6/7/7.5” from folded edge.

Shape Crown

Note: Change to double pointed needles when there are no longer enough stitches to work on circular needle.
Decrease Round: K8/9, K2tog
Straight round: K

Decrease Round: K7/8 K2tog
Straight round: K

Continue decreasing every other round until 8 stitches remain. Pull tail through remaining stitches to secure and weave in all ends.

Pompom – Optional but fun

If you like a faux fur pompom try here:  Etsy: faux fur pompoms

It is also fun to make your own yarn pompoms.  I like to use the Knitpicks Clover Pompom Maker.   For help use this guide.

I hope you enjoy knitting this fun hat!