Featuring stranded colourwork knitted in the round, with slipped stitch patterns and two-colour cables, this hat is inspired by beach huts on the West Sussex coast at Rustington, the home of South Downs Yarn.

The pattern was originally available as a kit (with free Ravelry download code) direct from South Downs Yarn.

I first met Louise from South Downs Yarn when she was exhibiting at Edinburgh Yarn Festival and it led to us collaborating on this pattern using her lovely yarns. Having previously visited Rustington several times, I found plenty of inspiration from the photographs I had taken there, and the naturally-dyed yarn colours reflect the landscape beautifully!

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Yarn
South Downs Yarn Nepcote Flock (approx 78m/85yd per 30g):
25g Rock Pool (green) (A)
35g Dewpond (blue) (B)
South Downs Yarn, Ridings Flock (approx 81m/88yd per 30g)
15g Chalk Path (natural) (C)

Yarn substitution:
This lofty woollen-spun yarn can relax considerably with fairly aggressive wet-blocking therefore the weights above are a guide if substituting with a similar woollen spun 4-ply or sport-weight yarn. For yarns with less stretch, additional quantities may be required.

Needles and Notions
3.25mm/US 3 (or size(s) required to obtain gauge across both mosaic and stranded-colourwork sections of Charts 1 & 2) circular needle, 40cm/16in length.
Set of DPNs in gauge size for working centre of crown.
3mm/US 2.5 (or one size smaller than gauge needle) circular needle, 40cm/16in length.
Cable needle. Stitch marker, tapestry needle for finishing, dinner plate & bowl for blocking.

Gauge
24.5 sts and 31 rounds to 10cm/4in, after wet-blocking, across stranded colourwork at widest part of crown on larger needle. Note: gauge before wet-blocking is likely to be considerably tighter. Adjust needle size if necessary to obtain gauge. Swatching is highly recommended as a result of test knitting, as a smaller needle size may sometimes be required for the mosaic colourwork section than for the stranded colourwork sections.

Measurements and Sizing
Diameter of crown 26cm/10.5in; band size 53cm/21in to fit head of 55-59cm/21.5-23in circumference. The hat is shown on a 59cm/23in head.