Halo Fair Isle Beanie

Double-Stranded Mohair Colorwork Hat

A soft, light intermediate beanie worked holding two strands of luxury mohair together for a worsted-weight fabric with a beautiful halo. Bottom-up in the round: stretchy rib brim, stranded Fair Isle body, and a clean 10-point crown. Ideal for gradient cakes (Poema or similar) paired with a solid contrast.

Difficulty: Intermediate
Skills used: Knitting in the round, 1×1 rib, stranded colorwork (two colors per round), reading charts, catching floats, crown decreases

Materials

Yarn
Worsted-weight equivalent when held double. Sample assumes lace/light fingering mohair-blend held double throughout (2 strands together as one).

• MC (Main Color): Approx 180 yd / 165 m of double-stranded yarn
  (≈ 360 yd / 330 m single-strand lace mohair, e.g. Poema Luxury Mohair or equivalent)
• CC1 (Contrast 1): Approx 70 yd / 64 m double-stranded (≈ 140 yd / 128 m single-strand)
• CC2 (Contrast 2): Approx 40 yd / 37 m double-stranded (≈ 80 yd / 73 m single-strand)

If using self-striping/gradient cakes for MC, wind a solid or semi-solid for CC1/CC2, or use a second cake.

Needles (user is intentionally using sizes that achieve gauge, which may differ from yarn-label suggestions)

• US 6 / 4.0 mm circular, 16" / 40 cm (ribbing)
• US 8 / 5.0 mm circular, 16" / 40 cm (colorwork body)
• US 8 / 5.0 mm DPNs or magic-loop needle (crown)
  Change needle size as needed to match gauge. Stranded fabric often needs a needle 1 size larger than plain St st.

Notions

• Stitch marker (BOR)
• Tapestry needle
• Scissors
• Optional: pom-pom maker

Gauge

20 stitches × 26 rounds = 4" / 10 cm
over stranded stockinette stitch in the round on larger needles, after blocking, with yarn held double.

Gauge swatch in colorwork is mandatory — mohair halo and stranding density both affect fabric. Adjust needle size until you match stitch gauge; row gauge differences are absorbed in length instructions.

Sizes

One size (adult M/L)

• Finished circumference: 20" / 51 cm (unstretched)
• To fit head: 21–23" / 53.5–58.5 cm
• Finished depth (brim to crown, no pom): approx 8.5" / 21.5 cm

For a snugger hat, go down one needle size in rib only; for more slouch, add 4–8 plain MC rounds before crown.

Abbreviations (US)

Pattern Notes

1. Double stranding: Hold two strands together as one for the entire hat (MC+MC, or CC+CC). Never split the pair mid-stitch. When changing colors, treat each color’s double strand as a single working yarn.
2. Colorwork: Work Charts A and B in stranded St st (knit every rnd). Carry unused color loosely across the wrong side. Catch floats every 4–5 stitches so strands do not pucker or snag.
3. Tension: Stranding too tight shrinks circumference. Spread stitches on the right needle each time you switch colors.
4. Mohair tips: Use sharp-pointed needles if fibers stick. Weave ends carefully; mohair does not full heavily. A gentle wet block opens the halo and evenness of the colorwork.
5. Reading charts: Charts are worked in the round — read every round from right to left. Bottom row is Round 1. One 10-st repeat is shown; work it 10 times per round (100 sts).
6. Needle note: Pattern needle sizes are those that typically hit worsted stranded gauge with double mohair. Match gauge, not the number printed on your yarn band.

Charts

Color Key

• □ = MC (background)
• ■ = CC1
• ● = CC2

CHART A — Lower Band (10 sts × 12 rnds)

Work 10-st repeat 10 times per rnd.

12: □ □ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ □ □
11: □ ■ ■ □ □ □ □ ■ ■ □
10: ■ ■ □ □ ● ● □ □ ■ ■
 9: ■ □ □ ● ● ● ● □ □ ■
 8: ■ □ ● ● □ □ ● ● □ ■
 7: ■ □ ● ● □ □ ● ● □ ■
 6: ■ □ □ ● ● ● ● □ □ ■
 5: ■ ■ □ □ ● ● □ □ ■ ■
 4: □ ■ ■ □ □ □ □ ■ ■ □
 3: □ □ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ □ □
 2: □ □ □ ■ ■ ■ ■ □ □ □
 1: □ □ □ □ ■ ■ □ □ □ □

Stitch count: 10-st repeat × 10 = 100 sts ✓
Rounds 1–12: Follow Chart A (right to left each rnd).

CHART B — Upper Band (10 sts × 10 rnds)

Work 10-st repeat 10 times per rnd.

10: □ □ □ ■ ■ ■ ■ □ □ □
 9: □ □ ■ ■ □ □ ■ ■ □ □
 8: □ ■ ■ □ □ □ □ ■ ■ □
 7: ■ ■ □ □ ● ● □ □ ■ ■
 6: ■ □ □ ● ● ● ● □ □ ■
 5: ■ □ ● ● □ □ ● ● □ ■
 4: ■ □ □ ● ● ● ● □ □ ■
 3: ■ ■ □ □ ● ● □ □ ■ ■
 2: □ ■ ■ □ □ □ □ ■ ■ □
 1: □ □ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ □ □

Stitch count: 10-st repeat × 10 = 100 sts ✓
Rounds 1–10: Follow Chart B after the separator rounds (see Body).

Instructions

Brim

With smaller needles (US 6 / 4.0 mm) and MC held double, CO 100 sts using a stretchy cast-on (long-tail or alternate cable).
Join to work in the round, being careful not to twist. Pm for BOR.

Rib rnd: *K1, p1; rep from * to end.
Repeat Rib rnd until brim measures 1.5" / 4 cm from CO edge.

Body (Colorwork)

Change to larger needles (US 8 / 5.0 mm).

Setup rnd: With MC only, knit 1 rnd. (100 sts)

Chart A
Joining CC1 and CC2 as needed, work Rounds 1–12 of Chart A.
On each rnd, work the 10-st chart repeat 10 times. (100 sts every rnd ✓)

Separator
With MC only, knit 3 rnds. (100 sts)

Chart B
Work Rounds 1–10 of Chart B, 10-st repeat × 10. (100 sts every rnd ✓)

Plain section
With MC only, knit 4 rnds (or until piece measures approx 6.25" / 16 cm from CO edge, including brim). (100 sts)

Crown

Continue with larger needles; switch to DPNs or magic loop when needed.
All crown rnds use MC held double only.

Rnd 1 (dec): *K8, k2tog; rep from * to end. (10 dec → 90 sts ✓)
Rnd 2: Knit.
Rnd 3: *K7, k2tog; rep from * to end. (10 dec → 80 sts ✓)
Rnd 4: Knit.
Rnd 5: *K6, k2tog; rep from * to end. (10 dec → 70 sts ✓)
Rnd 6: Knit.
Rnd 7: *K5, k2tog; rep from * to end. (10 dec → 60 sts ✓)
Rnd 8: Knit.
Rnd 9: *K4, k2tog; rep from * to end. (10 dec → 50 sts ✓)
Rnd 10: Knit.
Rnd 11: *K3, k2tog; rep from * to end. (10 dec → 40 sts ✓)
Rnd 12: Knit.
Rnd 13: *K2, k2tog; rep from * to end. (10 dec → 30 sts ✓)
Rnd 14: *K1, k2tog; rep from * to end. (10 dec → 20 sts ✓)
Rnd 15: *K2tog; rep from * to end. (10 dec → 10 sts ✓)
Rnd 16: *K2tog; rep from * to end. (5 dec → 5 sts — wait, 10 sts → k2tog ×5 = 5 sts)

Correction for clean close (use this final sequence from 20 sts):

From 20 sts after Rnd 14:
Rnd 15: *K2tog; rep from * to end. (10 sts ✓)
Rnd 16: *K2tog; rep from * to end. (5 sts ✓)

Cut yarn, leaving an 8" / 20 cm tail. Thread tail through remaining 5 sts, pull tight, and secure on WS.

(Inline crown validation: 100→90→80→70→60→50→40→30→20→10→5 ✓)

Finishing

1. Weave in all ends on the WS with a tapestry needle. For mohair, weave in a zigzag path and trim after blocking (ends can creep).
2. Block: Soak gently in lukewarm water with wool wash. Support the wet fabric — do not wring. Roll in a towel, then dry over a hat form or inflated balloon sized to ~20–21" circumference so colorwork lies flat and halo blooms.
3. Optional: Attach a pom-pom in MC or CC1.
4. Steam lightly if needed to relax any tight floats — do not crush the mohair halo with a hard press.

Yardage & Fit Check (quick reference)

Finished circumference at gauge: 100 sts ÷ 5 sts per inch = 20" ✓

Designer / Editor Notes for the Maker

• You asked to knit Poema Luxury Mohair double-stranded on needles different from a prior pattern’s spec. This pattern is written to your fabric: match the 20 sts = 4" stranded gauge on whatever needle size delivers it with your double strand. That is the correct “different needle” approach.
• If your swatch is denser (e.g. 22 sts = 4"), CO 110 sts and add one extra 10-st chart repeat; if looser (18 sts = 4"), CO 90 sts and work 9 repeats — keep repeats divisible by 10 for these charts.
• No single-strand ball-band needle size applies when you intentionally change structure (double strand + colorwork).

Enjoy your halo Fair Isle beanie — happy knitting.