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KnittingDK (Double Knitting)
Terminology

Fair Isle Banded Hat

A striking hat with a single band of simple Fair Isle colourwork. A great step up from plain knitting.

Finished Fair Isle Banded Hat, a free knitting pattern

Yarn needed

1 x 100g ball MC + 1 x 50g ball CC

~100g total · ~300 metres

Time

A weekend

Intermediate

Finished size

Adult, fits head 54-58cm

Get the yarn

DK Yarn at Mandy Bond

Pick a bold main shade and a complementary contrast for eye-catching colourwork.

What you'll need

  • 1 x 100g ball DK yarn in main colour (MC)
  • 1 x 50g ball DK yarn in contrast colour (CC)
  • A pair of 4mm (UK 8 / US 6) knitting needles
  • A wool/darning needle

Tension: 22 stitches and 28 rows to 10cm in stocking stitch on 4mm needles.

Abbreviations

kknit
ppurl
k2togknit two together
MC / CCmain colour / contrast colour

Step-by-step instructions

1. Rib brim

  1. 1Using MC, cast on 112 stitches with 4mm needles.
  2. 2Work in k2, p2 rib for 5cm.

2. Fair Isle band

  1. 1Work 4 rows in stocking stitch in MC.
  2. 2Follow the Fair Isle chart (or this simple repeat): *k1MC, k1CC* across the row. Next row: *p1CC, p1MC*. Repeat these two rows for 10 rows total — this creates a classic checked band.
  3. 3Work 4 more rows in MC.

3. Crown shaping

  1. 1Decrease as for a standard beanie: *k12, k2tog* on the first decrease row, then *k11, k2tog* and so on every RS row until 8 stitches remain.

4. Finish

  1. 1Thread yarn through remaining stitches, pull tight. Sew side seam. Weave in all colour-change ends on the wrong side.

Top tip: Strand the unused colour loosely across the back — pulling it tight will pucker the fabric.

Ready to cast on?

Get everything you need for this project — quality yarn, needles and accessories — from Mandy Bond Wool & Yarn.