by Aileen Ryder

Fitful Head, named after the Shetland promontory on south-west Mainland, is knitted in the round using a stranded two-colors per row technique, in the Fair Isle style.

The yarn used here is Shetland Supreme Jumper Weight, from Jamieson & Smith, and makes a lightweight but toasty little hat.

Colors are from the natural, undyed palette of the Shetland breed: seven are used here, ranging from white, through shades of brown to its darkest hue which is virtually black. Two colorways are shown, but any combination that delights you is possible.

SIZE
One

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS
Circumference: 20 inches (easily stretches to fit head circumference up to 24 inches)

MATERIALS
Yarn
Jamieson & Smith's Shetland Supreme Jumper Weight [100% real Shetland wool, dye free; 172m/188yds per 50g ball]; 1 ball each of the following colors:
[A] 2001 White
[B] 2006 Gaulmogot
[C] 2008 Katmollet
[D] 2002 Mooskit
[E] 2007 Sholmit
[F] 2004 Moorit
[G] 2005 Black
Note: The yarn list above is for either version (Light or Dark). You'll have enough to make both hats if you buy 1 additional skein of [A] 2001 White.


Recommended needle size
[always use a needle size that gives you the gauge listed below -- every knitter's gauge is unique]
One 16-inch US #2.5/3mm circular needle
US #2.5/3mm needles for the crown decreases

Notions
yarn needle
stitch markers

GAUGE
32 sts/35 rounds = 4 inches in patterned stranded stockinette stitch

PATTERN NOTES
[Knitty's list of standard abbreviations and techniques can be found here.]

DIRECTIONS
LIGHT VERSION: Using the circular needle and A, cast on 144 sts.

DARK VERSION: Using the circular needle and F, cast on 144 sts.

Lower Edge:
LIGHT VERSION
Rounds 1-3: [K2C, p2A] around.
Round 4: [K2D, p2A] around.
Rounds 5-6: [K2D, p2B] around.
Rounds 7-9: [K2E, p2B] around.
Round 10: With A, [k4, m1] around. 180 sts.
Round 11: With A, knit.

DARK VERSION
Rounds 1-2: [K2 B, p2 F] around.
Rounds 3-4: [K2 B, p2 E] around.
Rounds 5-6: [K2 A, p2 E] around.
Rounds 7-9: [K2 A, p2 C] around.
Round 10: With F, [k4, m1] around. 180 sts.
Round 11: With F, knit.

Body of hat -- BOTH VERSIONS:
Work appropriate Body Chart around, working repeats as indicated, until 36 rounds are complete.
After Round 37, 144 sts rem.
Work Rounds 38 & 39 of chart.

Crown -- BOTH VERSIONS:
As hat gets too small to work on circular needle, switch to DPNs, magic loop or two circulars as you prefer.

Work appropriate Crown Chart 6 times around.
After Round 1, 132 sts rem.
After Chart is complete, 6 sts rem.
Break yarn, leaving a tail of 3 or 4 inches, and thread it onto a darning needle, and run through rem sts. Pull tight to close.

FINISHING
Block and weave in ends.

Aileen works as a cataloguing assistant in the library service in the mornings, but after lunch becomes a knitter and pattern-writer, living in south-east England.