Achieving the right balance of simple but recognisable buttons took some trial and error: the first version ended up as more of a cookie hat. The soft, luxurious yak and cormo blend held up delightfully well to all of that ripping and re-knitting and is one of the warmest yarns I’ve used. A slight halo gives the colourwork softly rounded edges that makes a big difference to whether the pattern reads as buttons.
The buttons are worked against a traditional “lice” pattern, which, despite the gross name, is an excellent way to work a non-repeating motif in stranded colourwork. The allover pattern allows both colours to be used all the way around the hat, making the knitting simple and the hat cosier with the resulting double thick layer. There are a few sections in the large blocks of contrast colour on the buttons where you will need to twist the two yarns together in order to avoid long floats. Pay attention to colour dominance, for the buttons to stand out well against the patterned background make sure that the contrast colour is dominant.
18 sts and 28 rnds = 4" / 10cm in st st in the rnd with larger needles.
24 sts and 24 rnds = 4" / 10cm in stranded colour work in the rnd with larger needles.
The Stranded Colourwork Basics course is a 4 week self-guided online knitting course, with continued access to the course so that you can return to each chapter for a refresher, again and again, whenever you need. The course is comprised of short, easy to digest videos and photo tutorials as well as a discussion group to ask questions and share your achievements with other knitters. Includes a complimentary copy of the Tyrie Hat pattern
Worsted weight yarn in 2 colours: MC 120yds / 110m, CC 70yds / 65m.
Shown in Bijou Basin Ranch Bijou Bliss (50% Yak, 50% Cormo wool, 150yds / 137m, 1.98oz / 56g) in MC - Steel and CC - Goldenrod.
US 6 / 4mm 16" / 40cm circular.
US 7 / 4.5mm 16" / 40cm circular and dpns or long circular(s) for preferred method of working small circumferences in the rnd.