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This pattern pays homage to the craftspeople of Estonia and Northern Russia, whose knitting skills produced beautifully simple knitted artefacts. The Vods (or Votes) are the oldest known ethnic group in Ingria. a region of northern Europe southwest of St Petersburg. They are probably descended from an Iron-age population of north-eastern Estonia and western Ingria. Their language, Votic, is now highly endangered there being only a handful of speakers remaining. In 1949, during an archaeological dig in a cemetery in Jouga Estonia, a small fragment of knitted fabric was found. The fragment has been dated to the 13th century and probably forms part of the cuff of a mitten with a distinct pattern.

The hat can be knit as a close fitting beanie or as a longer slouchy hat. The pattern is charted but is simple and very memorable, making this a portable project.

Three sizes are specified, teen, small adult, large adult head circumference approximately 49.5 cm, 54 cm, 58.5 cm/19 ½”, 21 ¼”, 23”.

The pattern requires three colours of yarn; a neutral background colour, and two tonally-compatible colours. The original Votic pattern used white, red and blue; I have used natural fawn (colour Hepworth) plus blue (Trebah) and dark grey (Tremenheere) in the samples shown.

The yarn is Blacker Yarns new 2019 Birthday yarn, Cornish Garden. It is a fabulously soft 3ply/light fingering but, since woollen spun yarns are bulky, this weight works well for 4ply patterns as well.