The MANA WĀHINE collection, six knitwear designs inspired by Aotearoa and Hawai’i, is the inaugural series from the AROHA | ALOHA project highlighting the works of modern indigenous makers.

Preorder the full collection now and receive each pattern as they become available; or, purchase the patterns individually. The full collection will include additional content in ebook format upon the final pattern release in August 2021.

The koru is an iconic symbol in New Zealand, but holds deep meaning in Te Ao Māori: growth, change and new beginnings. This design represents that meaning, as it challenged me to learn a new skill: how to create scroll/curved charts. This has opened up a whole new world of possibilities in terms of stories I can tell through stitches. The motif I designed for this hat is a memento to the ever-going journey of growth we are all on.

This hat is knit bottom-up in the round, starting with a simple twisted rib stitch. You then increase for the body of the hat to accommodate the amount of stitches needed to knit the colorwork motif. Due to the nature of colorwork motifs having a tighter gauge, you will switch needles. Once the motif is complete, you return to the smaller needle size and knit in Stockinette stitch until the crown shaping.

YARN
Yardage

• MC yarn: 160-170 yds./140 - 155 m. CC yarn: 25-30 yds./22 - 30 m. Sport Weight Yarn
• Rambouillet is a very elastic yarn that knits like butter on the needles. It is very soft and squishy.
• Farmer’s Daughter Fiber Recollect (75% White + 25% Black Montana and Wyoming raised Rambouillet; 185 yds./169 m; 2 oz./57 g).
• 1 skein in Pine Drop (MC), 1 skein in Ranch Romance (CC).

NEEDLES

• US 4/3.5 mm and US 6/4 mm or size needed to obtain gauge 16 in./40 cm circular needle.
• US 4/3.5 DPNs for working the hat crown.

GAUGE
28 sts and 44 rnds = 4 in./10 cm in St. st with US 4/3.5 mm and after blocking.

NOTIONS

• Stitch markers
• Darning/tapestry needle

MEASUREMENTS
Circumference: 18 in./45 cm