I love all my patterns to be as simple and smooth to read as possible. Of course, there are always those little moments when you might pause and think, what does that mean? – but I hope with my patterns the answers come quickly and clearly.

I designed the Aisling Hat for lots of reasons – one, because I had always wanted a hat with this particular stitch technique! Two, because it matches the tank top I designed in the same series, and I love offering an accessory option for knitters who want to try out the technique or their chosen shades on a smaller project before committing to a bigger garment. (And there are even more reasons, but I’ll keep those for another time!)

This hat is part of a collection of eight patterns that I launched specially for Yarndale 2017. Each one is named using an Irish word – Aisling (pronounced ASH-ling) means vision or dream, the wonderful things we imagine in our minds.

A cosy project to dream up your next knitting adventure!

CONSTRUCTION
The hat is knitted in the round in one piece from the bottom up.

TECHNIQUES USED
Cast on, knit, purl, decreasing, knitting in the round, slip stitch technique sometimes called mosaic colour work.

YARN
One 100g hank each of baa ram ewe Donegal Twists DK in shade A and shade B.
72% Donegal Merino amd 28% British wool, 270m/295yds per 100g.

SUGGESTED KNITTING NEEDLES
4mm (40cm length) circular needles.
Four double pointed 4mm needles.

GAUGE (tension)
20 stitches and 21 rows to 10cm square over rib pattern. I obtained this gauge with 4mm needles.
It is important to obtain gauge so do swatch and change your needle size to achieve the correct gauge if you need to.

SIZE AND FINISHED MEASUREMENTS
To fit average size head. Due to the nature of the rib pattern and individual gauges ,the finished circumference can vary from 58cm to 53cm. If the knitter gets the gauge as above, the finished circumference will be approx. 56cm.

NEED HELP?
I am here for you! Pop into the Skipton studio, send an email, or check out the Purl &Jane YouTube channel for tips, inspiration and guidance including handy resources like gauge (tension) guides and how to tutorials.