Just as a zebra’s stripes merge and divide so does the colorwork in this striking set. The brim of the hat starts with a waste yarn tubular cast on to give a stretchy edge followed by deep ribbing, which allows it to be worn either as a close-fitting beanie or as a hat with more slouch.
Skill Level: Intermediate
Size: Ladies S/M 8½” circumference
Gauge: 18.5 sts and 36 rows = 4” [10 cm] over mosaic/cable pattern on larger needle after wet blocking.
Materials
Yarn:
Cascade Yarns 128 Superwash (100% Merino; 128 yards [117 meters]/100 grams): 871 White (MC), 1 ball; 815 Black (CC), 1 ball
Needles: US size 8 (5 mm): 32” or longer circular; US size 9 (5.5 mm): 32” or longer circular
Notions: Cable needle; two markers; smooth bulky weight waste yarn for tubular cast on; tapestry needle
Special Stitches
CSL: Place next st on cn and hold at front. Slip next st purlwise and then knit st on cn.
CSR: Place next st on cn and hold at back. Knit next st and then slip st on cn purlwise to right needle.
M1L: With left hand needle, lift the bar between the st just knit and the next st from front to back and knit through the back of the st.
M1R: With left hand needle, lift the bar between the st just knit and the next st from back to front and knit through the front of st.
sl1p wyif: Move yarn to the front, slip next st purlwise, move yarn to the back.
Pattern notes
The mittens are worked from the bottom up in the round after the tubular cast-on using the magic loop method. Arrange the stitches for the back the hand on one needle and the palm stitches on the other.
In the Mosaic Cable pattern, work 2 rounds with CC followed by 2 rounds with MC throughout.
Work in pattern as set: knit all the stitches that are of the same color as the yarn you are working and slip all the stitches purlwise with yarn in back that are the other color.
The top of mitten shaping instructions are split into Back of Hand and Palm. Work them in the order required for whichever mitten you are making.
Back of Hand (work over 20 sts)
Rnds 1-2 (CC): Sl1p, k1, *(sl1p, k2, sl2p, k2, sl1p); rep from * to last 2 sts, k1, sl1p.
Rnds 3-4 (MC): K1, sl1p, *(k1, sl2p, k2, sl2p, k1); rep from * to last 2 sts, sl1p, k1.
Rnd 5: Sl1p, k1, *(sl1p, k1, CSL, CSR, k1, sl1p); rep from * to last 2 sts, k1, sl1p.
Rnds 6-12: Work in pattern as set.
Rnd 13 (CC): Sl1p, k1, *(CSR, sl1p, k2, sl1p, CSL); rep from * to last 2 sts, k1, sl1p.
Rnds 14-20: Work in pattern as set.
Rnd 21 (CC): Sl1p, k1, *(k1, sl1p, CSR, CSL, sl1p, k1); rep from * to last 2 sts, k1, sl1p.
Rnds 22-28: Work in pattern as set.
Rnd 29 (CC): Sl1p, k1, *(CSL, k1, sl2p, k1, CSR); rep from * to last 2 sts, k1, sl1p.
Rnds 30-32: Work in pattern as set.
Rep Rnds 1-32 for pattern.
Palm (work over 19 sts)
Rnds 1-2 (CC): *(K1, sl1p); rep from * to last st, k1
Rnds 3-4 (MC): *(Sl1p, k1); rep from * to last st, sl1p.
Rep Rnds 1-4 for pattern.
Pattern
Tubular Cast-on
With smaller needles and waste yarn, CO 20 sts using your preferred cast-on method.
Continue with MC, leaving 6” tail to use for seaming the cast-on edges together.
Row 1: *(K1, yo); rep from * to last st, k1 – 39 sts.
Row 2: *(Sl1p wyif, k1); rep from * to last st, sl1p wyif.
Row 3: *(K1, sl1p wyif); rep from * to last st, k1.
Rows 4-5: Repeat Rows 2-3.
Cuff
Begin working in the rnd. Do not decrease by joining the first and last stitch together.
Rnds 1-4: *(K1, p1); rep from * to last st, k1.
Change to larger needles, knit 2 rnds.
Left hand: Work the back of hand on the first needle and the palm on the second, placing markers 4 and 1 stitches before the end of the palm to mark the thumb gusset.
Right hand: Work the palm on the first needle and the back of hand on the second, placing markers after the 1st and 4th stitches of the palm to mark the thumb gusset.
With CC, start Mosaic Cable Patterns.
Rnds 1-14: Work in pattern.
Rnd 15 (begin Thumb Gusset): Work in pattern to marker, sm, kfb, work in pattern as set to st before marker, kfb, sm, work in pattern to end of rnd – 2 sts inc’d; 41 sts.
Rnd 16: Work in pattern.
Rnd 17: Work in pattern to marker, sm, sl1p, M1R, work in pattern as set to st before marker M1L, sl1p, sm, work in pattern to end of rnd – 2 sts inc’d; 43 sts.
Rnds 18-22: Work in pattern.
Rnd 23: Repeat Rnd 15 – 45 sts.
Rnd 24: Work in pattern.
Rnd 25: Repeat Rnd 17 – 47 sts.
Rnds 26-30: Work in pattern.
Rnd 31: Repeat Rnd 15 – 49 sts.
Rnd 32: Work in pattern.
Rnd 33: Repeat Rnd 17 – 51 sts.
Rnds 34-38: Work in pattern.
Rnd 39 (Separate Thumb): Work in pattern to marker, sm, k1, place next 13 sts on scrap yarn for Thumb, CO 3 sts, k1, sm, work in pattern to end of rnd – 41 sts.
Rnd 40: Work in pattern to marker, ssk, k1, k2tog, work in pattern to end of rnd – 39 sts.
Rnd 41: Work in pattern to marker, remove marker, sl1p, k1, sl1p, remove marker, work in pattern to end of rnd.
Rnds 42-66: Work in pattern.
If the mitten does not reach the top of the little finger, then work extra groups of 4-rnds in pattern as set, ending with CC, before continuing with Rnd 67.
Rnd 67 (begin Top of Mitten Shaping): Back of hand sts, work in pattern, Palm sts, sl1p, k3tog, work in pattern to last 4 sts, k3tog, sl1p – 4 sts dec’d; 35 sts.
Rnd 68: Work in pattern as set.
Rnd 69: Back of hand sts, k1, sl1p, (ssk, sl2p) twice, k2tog, sl2p, k2tog, sl1p, k1, Palm sts, work in pattern – 4 sts dec’d; 31 sts.
Rnds 70-72: Work in pattern as set.
Rnd 73: Back of hand sts, sl1p, (ssk) twice, sl1p, CSL, CSR, sl1p, (k2tog) twice, sl1p, Palm sts, work in pattern – 27 sts.
Rnd 74: Work in pattern as set.
Rnd 75: Repeat Rnd 67 – 23 sts.
Rnd 76: Work in pattern as set.
Rnd 77: Back of hand sts, sl1p, ssk, (sl2p, k2tog) twice, sl1p, Palm sts, work in pattern – 3 sts dec’d; 20 sts.
Rnd 78: Work in pattern as set. Cut CC yarn.
Rnd 79: Back of hand sts, k1, sl1p, ssk, sl1p, k2tog, sl1p, k1, Palm sts, sl1p, k3tog, sl1p, k1, sl1p, k3tog, sl1p – 6 sts dec’d; 14 sts.
Right Hand
Rnd 80: *(K2tog); rep from * to end of rnd – 7 sts.
Left Hand
Rnd 80: *(Ssk); rep from * to end of rnd – 7 sts.
Cut yarn and thread twice through the remaining sts. Pull tight and thread tail through to the WS.
Thumb
Place held Thumb sts back on larger needle. With MC, starting at the middle thumb cast-on stitch, pick up and knit 2 sts, work thumb sts in pattern as set, pick up and knit the last thumb cast-on stitch and continue working in the round – 16 sts.
Next Rnd (MC): Work in pattern as set.
Next Rnd (CC): *(K1, sl1p); rep from * to end of rnd.
Next Rnd (CC): Work in pattern as set.
Work 16 more rnds in pattern as set, or as many as needed for required thumb length.
Cut CC yarn.
Next Rnd (MC): *(K2tog); rep to end of rnd – 8 sts.
Cut yarn and thread twice through the remaining sts. Pull tight and thread tail through to the WS.
Finishing
Remove the waste yarn by pulling it away from the MC yarn, cutting it carefully in several places and picking it out.
Seam the bottom of the cuff using the MC tail from the cast on.
Weave in yarn ends.
Block.
Zebra Hat
Skill Level: Intermediate
Size: Ladies S/M 20” circumference, 10¼” high
Gauge: 17.5 sts and 32 rows = 4” [10 cm] over Mosaic/Cable Pattern on larger needle after wet blocking
Materials
Yarn:
Cascade Yarns 128 Superwash (100% Merino; 128 yards [117 meters]/100 grams): 871 White (MC), 1 ball; 815 Black (CC), 1 ball
Needles: US size 8 (5 mm): 16” circular; US size 10 (6 mm): 16” circular or 40” circular for magic loop or dpns for crown shaping
Notions: Cable needle; tapestry needle; marker (optional); smooth bulky weight waste yarn for tubular cast on
Special Stitches
CSL: Place next st on cn and hold at front. Slip next st purlwise and then knit st on cn.
CSR: Place next st on cn and hold at back. Knit next st and then slip st on cn purlwise to right needle.
sl1p wyif: Move yarn to the front, slip next st purlwise, move yarn to the back.
Pattern notes
The hat is worked bottom up in the round after the tubular cast on.
In the Mosaic/Cable Pattern, work 2 rounds with CC followed by 2 rounds with MC throughout.
Work in pattern as set: knit all the stitches that are of the same color as the yarn you are working with and slip all the stitches purlwise with yarn in back that are the other color.
Pattern
Tubular Cast-on
With smaller needles, and waste yarn, CO 45 sts using your preferred cast-on method.
Continue with MC, leaving 6” tail to use for seaming the cast-on edges together.
Row 1: *(K1, yo); rep from * to last st, k1 – 89 sts.
Row 2: *(Sl1p wyif, k1); rep from * to last st, sl1p wyif.
Row 3: *(K1, sl1p wyif); rep from * to last st, k1.
Rows 4-5: Repeat Rows 2-3.
Brim
Row 6: *(P1, k1); rep from * to last st, p1.
Turn work around so that the row starts and ends with a knit stitch, join to work in the rnd by moving the last st to the start of the needle and passing the second st over it, place a marker at the start of round if needed – 88 sts.
Work 12 rnds in 1×1 rib as set, starting with knit st.
Body
Change to larger circular needles, knit 2 rnds.
Join CC and work Mosaic/Cable Pattern.
Rnds 1-2 (CC): *(Sl1p, k2, sl2p, k2, sl1p); rep from * around.
Rnds 3-4 (MC): *(K1, sl2p, k2, sl2p, k1); rep from * around.
Rnds 5-12: Repeat Rnds 1-4 twice more.
Rnd 13 (CC): *(Sl1p, k1, CSL, CSR, k1, sl1p); rep from * around.
Rnds 14-20: Work in pattern as set.
Rnd 21 (CC): *(CSR, sl1p, k2, sl1p, CSL); rep from * around.
Rnds 22-28: Work in pattern as set.
Rnd 29 (CC): *(K1, sl1p, CSR, CSL, sl1p, k1); rep from * around.
Rnds 30-36: Work in pattern as set.
Rnd 37 (CC): *(CSL, k1, sl2p, k1, CSR); rep from * around.
Rnds 38-42: Work in pattern as set.
Work extra groups of 4-rnds in pattern as set here to make the hat longer if desired.
Crown Shaping
Rnd 43 (MC): K1, sl2p, *(k2tog, sl2p); rep from * to last st.
Move the start of rnd back 1 st.
Rnd 44 (MC): K2tog, sl2p, *(k1, sl2p); rep from * around – 66 sts.
Rnds 45-48: Work in pattern as set.
Rnd 49 (CC): *(Sl1p, k2tog); rep from * around – 44 sts.
Rnds 50-52: Work in pattern as set.
Rnd 53 (CC): *(Sl1p, k1, k2tog); rep from * around – 33 sts.
Rnds 54-56: Work in pattern as set. Cut MC.
Rnd 57 (CC): *(K2tog, k1); rep from * around – 22 sts.
Rnd 58 (CC): *K2tog; rep from * around – 11 sts.
Cut yarn and thread twice through the remaining sts. Pull tight and thread tail through to the WS.
Finishing
Remove the waste yarn by pulling it away from the MC yarn, cutting it carefully in several places and picking it out.
Seam the bottom of the brim using the MC tail from the cast-on.
Weave in yarn ends. Block.