Ribbed Balaclava

A snug, warm balaclava worked in stretchy k2, p2 rib. You start at the neck and knit up, leave an opening for the face, then shape the crown like a basic beanie. Designed for leftover or full skeins of worsted-weight yarn.

Skill level: Beginner (knit, purl, knitting in the round, binding off, casting on in the middle of a row, k2tog)

Size: One size (adult). Ribbing stretches to fit.

Finished measurements

• Circumference: 17½" (44.5 cm) slightly stretched; fits head circumference 20–24" (51–61 cm)
• Neck length: 5" (12.5 cm)
• Face opening: 6½" (16.5 cm) wide × 5" (12.5 cm) tall
• Total length (cast-on edge to crown): about 15½" (39.5 cm)

Yarn Worsted weight yarn, 250 yd / 230 m (about 5 oz / 140 g). A typical beanie uses less; this style needs extra for the neck. If you are using remaining yarn, wind and weigh it first — you want close to 250 yd (230 m). Wool or a wool blend is warmest. Acrylic is fine if that is what you have.

Needles US 8 / 5 mm, 16" (40 cm) circular needle, plus US 8 / 5 mm double-pointed needles (or a long circular for magic loop) for the crown. Adjust needle size to obtain gauge.

Notions Stitch marker, tapestry needle, scissors.

Gauge 20 sts and 24 rnds = 4" (10 cm) in k2, p2 rib, measured slightly stretched. Take time to check gauge. A denser fabric is warmer and still stretches.

Abbreviations (US)

• BO: bind off
• CO: cast on
• k: knit
• k2tog: knit 2 stitches together (1 stitch decreased)
• p: purl
• pm: place marker
• rep: repeat
• rnd(s): round(s)
• RS: right side
• st(s): stitch(es)
• WS: wrong side
• • … *: repeat the instructions between the asterisks

Notes

• The balaclava is worked in one piece. Neck and upper head are in the round; the face opening is worked flat (back and forth) on the same circular needle.
• k2, p2 rib is the same on both sides when stitch count is a multiple of 4: on WS rows, knit the knits and purl the purls as they face you.
• Backward-loop cast-on (for the top of the face): *loop yarn over your left thumb, slip the loop onto the right needle; rep from * until the required stitches are on the needle. Pull each loop snug but not tight.
• Small holes often appear at the two corners of the face opening. Close them with the yarn tail at finishing — do not try to fix them while knitting.
• For a taller neck, work extra rounds before the face opening (this uses more yarn). For a larger face opening, see the optional note at that step.

Pattern

Neck

Using the circular needle, CO 88 sts. Join to work in the round, being careful not to twist. Pm for beginning of rnd.

Rib rnd: *k2, p2; rep from * to end of rnd.

Repeat Rib rnd until piece measures 5" (12.5 cm) from the cast-on edge.

Face opening

Next rnd (split for face): Work 28 sts in established rib, BO the next 32 sts in pattern (work each st as k or p as it appears, then pass the previous st over), work in established rib to end of rnd. 56 sts remain (88 − 32 = 56 ✓).

Do not join. Turn the work. You will now knit back and forth on these 56 sts for the sides and back of the head.

Row 1 (WS): Work in established rib (knit the knits and purl the purls) to end. Turn. Row 2 (RS): Work in established rib to end. Turn.

Repeat Rows 1–2 until the face opening measures 5" (12.5 cm) from the bind-off, ending after a WS row. (About 30 rows at pattern gauge: 5 ÷ 4 × 24 = 30 ✓.)

Optional — wider opening: BO 36 sts instead of 32 on the split rnd (52 sts remain). At the close, CO 36 instead of 32. Opening will be about 7¼" (18.5 cm) wide.

Close the face opening and resume in the round

Next row (RS): Work 56 sts in established rib, then CO 32 sts using the backward-loop method. Join to work in the round, being careful not to twist the new stitches. Pm for beginning of rnd if it has fallen off. 88 sts (56 + 32 = 88 ✓).

Next rnd: *k2, p2; rep from * to end of rnd. Work the 32 new stitches into the same k2, p2 rhythm (the 56-st section ends with p2, so the new stitches begin with k2).

Continue in k2, p2 rib in the round until the piece measures 2½" (6.5 cm) from the face-opening cast-on. (About 15 rnds: 2.5 ÷ 4 × 24 = 15 ✓.)

Crown

Switch to knit every stitch from here (stockinette in the round). Change to double-pointed needles or magic loop when the stitches no longer fit comfortably on the 16" circular (usually around 40–48 sts).

Rnd 1: *k9, k2tog; rep from * to end. 80 sts (8 decreases → 88 − 8 = 80 ✓) Rnd 2: Knit. Rnd 3: *k8, k2tog; rep from * to end. 72 sts (80 − 8 = 72 ✓) Rnd 4: Knit. Rnd 5: *k7, k2tog; rep from * to end. 64 sts (72 − 8 = 64 ✓) Rnd 6: Knit. Rnd 7: *k6, k2tog; rep from * to end. 56 sts (64 − 8 = 56 ✓) Rnd 8: Knit. Rnd 9: *k5, k2tog; rep from * to end. 48 sts (56 − 8 = 48 ✓) Rnd 10: Knit. Rnd 11: *k4, k2tog; rep from * to end. 40 sts (48 − 8 = 40 ✓) Rnd 12: Knit. Rnd 13: *k3, k2tog; rep from * to end. 32 sts (40 − 8 = 32 ✓) Rnd 14: Knit. Rnd 15: *k2, k2tog; rep from * to end. 24 sts (32 − 8 = 24 ✓) Rnd 16: Knit. Rnd 17: *k1, k2tog; rep from * to end. 16 sts (24 − 8 = 16 ✓) Rnd 18: *k2tog; rep from * to end. 8 sts (16 − 8 = 8 ✓)

Cut yarn, leaving an 8" (20 cm) tail. Thread the tail through the remaining 8 sts, pull tight to close the crown, and fasten off on the inside.

Finishing

Weave in all ends on the WS.

At each corner of the face opening, use a yarn tail (or a short length of matching yarn) to close any gap with a couple of tight stitches so the opening sits neatly on the face.

Block lightly: dampen the balaclava, shape the face opening into a smooth oval about 6½" × 5" (16.5 × 12.5 cm), and lay flat to dry. Do not stretch the ribbing out of its natural snap.

Wear with the neck tucked into a coat collar. The rib stretches over the head when putting it on and then recovers.