purlJam

<pattern>

# PINE WREATH FAIR ISLE BEANIE

A cozy winter beanie featuring a festive pine wreath motif that wraps continuously around the hat. This beginner-friendly Fair Isle project introduces colorwork techniques with a simple two-color design and manageable float lengths. The classic ribbed brim provides stretch and comfort, while the cheerful wreath pattern adds a touch of seasonal charm.

## FINISHED MEASUREMENTS
- **Circumference**: 20" (unstretched), fits 21-23" head
- **Height**: 8.5" from brim to crown

## SIZE
One size (Adult Medium)

## MATERIALS

### Yarn
- **Weight**: Worsted (4/Medium)
- **Yardage**: 
  - Main Color (MC): 120 yards
  - Contrast Color (CC): 60 yards
- **Suggested Yarn**: Cascade 220 (100% wool, 220 yds/100g) or similar worsted weight yarn
- **Colors**: 
  - MC: Cream/Natural (background)
  - CC: Forest Green (pine wreath)

### Needles
- US 7 (4.5 mm) 16" circular needle for brim
- US 8 (5 mm) 16" circular needle for body (or size needed to obtain gauge)
- US 8 (5 mm) double-pointed needles (set of 5) for crown

### Notions
- Stitch marker (for beginning of round)
- Tapestry needle
- Scissors

## GAUGE
**20 stitches × 24 rounds = 4" in Fair Isle stockinette on larger needles**

Gauge is critical for proper fit. Take time to swatch and measure carefully. Block your swatch as you will block the finished hat.

### How to Measure Fair Isle Gauge
1. Cast on 28 sts with larger needles
2. Work Chart A pattern for at least 4"
3. Bind off and block swatch
4. Measure a 4" section in the center of the swatch
5. Count stitches horizontally and rounds vertically

## ABBREVIATIONS
- **CC**: Contrast Color
- **CO**: cast on
- **DPN(s)**: double-pointed needle(s)
- **k**: knit
- **k2tog**: knit 2 stitches together (right-leaning decrease)
- **MC**: Main Color
- **p**: purl
- **pm**: place marker
- **rep**: repeat
- **rnd(s)**: round(s)
- **RS**: right side
- **sm**: slip marker
- **ssk**: slip, slip, knit (left-leaning decrease)
- **st(s)**: stitch(es)
- **WS**: wrong side

## PATTERN NOTES

### Construction
This beanie is worked in the round from the bottom up. The brim is worked in 2x2 ribbing, followed by the Fair Isle body in stockinette stitch, and finished with crown decreases.

### Fair Isle Technique Tips for Beginners
1. **Stranding**: Carry the unused color loosely across the back of the work. Don't pull tight or the fabric will pucker.
2. **Float Length**: The longest float in this pattern is 4 stitches. Spread your stitches on the right needle after every few stitches to keep floats loose.
3. **Tension**: Fair Isle naturally has less stretch than solid stockinette. The pattern gauge accounts for this.
4. **Color Dominance**: Hold MC in your right hand and CC in your left hand (or vice versa, but stay consistent). The color held in your left hand will appear slightly more dominant.
5. **Practice**: If this is your first Fair Isle project, consider knitting a swatch of the chart before starting the hat.

### Reading the Charts
- Charts are read from **right to left on all rounds** (since you're working in the round, every round is a RS round)
- Each square represents one stitch
- Work the 20-stitch repeat 5 times around the hat (5 × 20 = 100 sts)
- Round numbers are shown on the left side of the chart
- Start at the bottom right corner of the chart and work toward the left
- When you reach the left edge, return to the right edge and work the repeat again

### Stitch Count Check Points
- After CO: 100 sts
- After brim: 100 sts
- After Chart A: 100 sts
- Beginning crown decreases: 100 sts
- After Decrease Rnd 1: 90 sts
- After Decrease Rnd 2: 80 sts
- After Decrease Rnd 3: 70 sts
- After Decrease Rnd 4: 60 sts
- After Decrease Rnd 5: 50 sts
- After Decrease Rnd 6: 40 sts
- After Decrease Rnd 7: 30 sts
- After Decrease Rnd 8: 20 sts
- After Decrease Rnd 9: 10 sts

---

## CHARTS

### CHART A: Pine Wreath Motif
**20-stitch repeat × 29 rounds**

Work this 20-stitch repeat **5 times** around the circumference of the hat.

```
Rnd 29: □□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□
Rnd 28: □□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□
Rnd 27: □□■□□□□■■□□■■□□□■□□□
Rnd 26: □■■■□□■■■■□■■■■□□■■■□
Rnd 25: □□■□□□□■■□□■■□□□□■□□
Rnd 24: □□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□
Rnd 23: □□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□
Rnd 22: ■□□□■■□□□■■□□□■■□□□■
Rnd 21: ■■□□■■■□□■■■□□■■■□□■
Rnd 20: ■■■□■■■■□■■■■□■■■■□■
Rnd 19: ■■□□■■■□□■■■□□■■■□□■
Rnd 18: ■□□□■■□□□■■□□□■■□□□■
Rnd 17: □□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□
Rnd 16: □□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□
Rnd 15: □■□□□□■■□□□■■□□□□■□□
Rnd 14: ■■■□□■■■■□□■■■■□□■■■
Rnd 13: □■□□□□■■□□□■■□□□□■□□
Rnd 12: □□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□
Rnd 11: □□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□
Rnd 10: □■■□□□■■□□□■■□□□■■□□
Rnd 9:  □■■■□□■■■□□■■■□□■■■□
Rnd 8:  □■■■■□■■■■□■■■■□■■■■
Rnd 7:  □■■■□□■■■□□■■■□□■■■□
Rnd 6:  □■■□□□■■□□□■■□□□■■□□
Rnd 5:  □□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□
Rnd 4:  □□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□
Rnd 3:  □□□■■□□□□■■□□□□■■□□□
Rnd 2:  □□■■■■□□■■■■□□■■■■□□
Rnd 1:  □□□■■□□□□■■□□□□■■□□□
```

**CHART KEY:**
- **□** = MC (Main Color - Cream/Natural)
- **■** = CC (Contrast Color - Forest Green)

**Chart Repeat**: [ ] = Work these 20 stitches 5 times per round

---

## INSTRUCTIONS

### BRIM
With MC and smaller circular needle, CO 100 sts using long-tail cast on. [Calculation check: 100 sts ÷ 20 sts per 4" = 20" circumference ✓]

Join to work in the round, being careful not to twist stitches. Place marker (pm) to indicate beginning of round.

**Ribbing Setup Rnd:** *K2, p2; rep from * to end of rnd. [Calculation: (2+2) × 25 = 100 sts ✓]

Continue in 2x2 rib as established (k2, p2 around) until brim measures 2" from cast-on edge, approximately 12 rnds.

### BODY

**Setup for Fair Isle:**
Change to larger circular needle. With MC, knit 1 rnd, increasing evenly spaced if needed to maintain 100 sts. [Stitch count: 100 sts ✓]

**Begin Chart A:**
Following Chart A and carrying CC, work Rnds 1-29 of chart, working the 20-st repeat 5 times per round. [Calculation: 20 sts × 5 repeats = 100 sts ✓]

**After Chart A:**
With MC only, knit 2 rnds even. [Stitch count: 100 sts ✓]

Hat should measure approximately 6.5" from cast-on edge. If you'd like a slouchier fit, work additional rounds with MC before beginning crown shaping.

### CROWN SHAPING

Switch to DPNs when stitches become too tight on circular needle (usually after 2-3 decrease rounds).

**Decrease Rnd 1:** With MC, *k8, k2tog; rep from * to end of rnd. [Calculation: (8+1) × 10 = 90 sts; 100 - 10 = 90 sts ✓]
**Rnds 2-3:** Knit even. [90 sts]

**Decrease Rnd 4:** *K7, k2tog; rep from * to end of rnd. [Calculation: (7+1) × 10 = 80 sts; 90 - 10 = 80 sts ✓]
**Rnd 5:** Knit even. [80 sts]

**Decrease Rnd 6:** *K6, k2tog; rep from * to end of rnd. [Calculation: (6+1) × 10 = 70 sts; 80 - 10 = 70 sts ✓]
**Rnd 7:** Knit even. [70 sts]

**Decrease Rnd 8:** *K5, k2tog; rep from * to end of rnd. [Calculation: (5+1) × 10 = 60 sts; 70 - 10 = 60 sts ✓]

**Decrease Rnd 9:** *K4, k2tog; rep from * to end of rnd. [Calculation: (4+1) × 10 = 50 sts; 60 - 10 = 50 sts ✓]

**Decrease Rnd 10:** *K3, k2tog; rep from * to end of rnd. [Calculation: (3+1) × 10 = 40 sts; 50 - 10 = 40 sts ✓]

**Decrease Rnd 11:** *K2, k2tog; rep from * to end of rnd. [Calculation: (2+1) × 10 = 30 sts; 40 - 10 = 30 sts ✓]

**Decrease Rnd 12:** *K1, k2tog; rep from * to end of rnd. [Calculation: (1+1) × 10 = 20 sts; 30 - 10 = 20 sts ✓]

**Decrease Rnd 13:** *K2tog; rep from * to end of rnd. [Calculation: 20 ÷ 2 = 10 sts ✓]

### FINISHING

Cut yarn, leaving an 8" tail. Thread tail through tapestry needle and draw through remaining 10 sts. Pull tight to close top of hat and secure on wrong side.

**Weaving in Ends:**
Weave in all ends on the wrong side of the work. For Fair Isle sections, weave ends horizontally through floats of the same color for 2-3", then diagonally for 1", then trim. This prevents ends from showing through to the right side.

**Blocking:**
Wet block the beanie to even out Fair Isle stitches and set the shape:
1. Fill a basin with cool water and a small amount of wool wash
2. Submerge the hat and gently squeeze (don't agitate) to saturate
3. Soak for 15-20 minutes
4. Gently squeeze out excess water (don't wring)
5. Roll in a towel and press to remove more moisture
6. Place hat on a blocking form, plate, or balloon inflated to approximately 20-21" circumference
7. Gently pat and shape the colorwork to ensure stitches are even
8. Allow to air dry completely (24-48 hours)

**Care Instructions:**
Hand wash in cool water with wool wash. Lay flat to dry. Fair Isle fabric may relax slightly with wear; blocking will restore the shape.

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