Feather Cap Beanie

• Craft:                     Knitting
• Suggested yarn:   Jamieson's Shetland Spindrift
• Yarn weight:          Fingering / 4 ply (14 wpi)
• Gauge:                  28 stitches and 30 rows = 10 cm/4in
• Needle size:          2.75 mm US 2,  3.25 mm US 3
• Yardage:               450 - 500 m / 492 - 547 yds
• Sizes available:     teen, adult, large adult

This is a pattern for a Fair Isle beanie/toque, to fit a range of sizes, inspired by the colours and patterns found in the beautiful feathers of my flock of hens. I have chosen a subdued palette of colours, from the Jamieson’s of Shetland Spindrift range, but this hat could also be worked in a high tone palette or in monochrome; alternative colourway suggestions are given. In the first sample shown, there are four background colours in neutral/brown shades and six foreground colours in shades of yellow and pink. Apart from two of the background colours, which each used most of a 25g ball, none of the other colours needed more than 10g, making this a great stash-buster pattern.

See also the matching cowl, full mittens, and fingerless mittens.

The versions shown are: monochrome in a range of greys and natural Shetland black; subdued palette; and high tone palette.

For pattern support, please contact me.

This pattern can be knit in any fingering/4ply weight yarn, but for colourwork the very best results are obtained by using a woolly wool such as Jamieson’s or Jamieson & Smith real Shetland yarns. The texture is wonderful, and the colour choices are huge. As always, when substituting yarn, be sure to knit a swatch to check that you are able to get the right gauge for the pattern. Suggested yarn substitutes can be found at https://yarnsub.com/