This helmet-hat got its name from the port of Balaklava on the Black Sea, where British soldiers during the Crimean War wore similar hand-knitted models to protect them from the harsh sea wind and cold.
Today I’m happy to wear it on my bike while speeding through the city.

Balaclava is knitted in the round, from the bottom up. The pattern is written using the magic loop circular needle method but can be knitted with DPNs or any other preferred circular knitting method.

Sizes & Measurements
One size fits all.
Cowl circumference: 29 cm (11.5″)
Total height: 28 cm (11″)

Further sizes can be achieved by going up or down a needle size.

Ease: Approx. 1” / 2.5 cm of negative ease.

Materials

Worsted weight yarn (200 g (7.05 oz) = 300 m (328 yd))
100% natural Slovenian sheep wool

Yardage: 1 skein

Needles: circular needles 3 mm (US 2.5) and 5 mm (US 8) or any size to obtain gauge.

Two auxiliary needles 5 mm (US 8), scissors, stitch markers, a tapestry needle, and a row counter are recommended.

For any questions about the pattern, contact us at boredomkills.design@gmail.com or yustitchkolektiv@gmail.com.

If you share photos of your Romantic bandit balaclava on IG, make sure to tag @YuStitchKolektiv and @boredomkills.design and use hashtags #yustitchkolektiv, and #romanticbandit so we can see your beautiful creations!