Page 55 - WCM 2023 Winter Flip

Having grown up in Western Maine, I’ve always assumed that I’m acclimated to cold weather. I’m tough! I survived the Ice Storm of 98! I knit sweaters, and own three pairs of boots! Imagine my surprise however, when I moved to New York City in my twenties, and felt freezing my first winter. It’s not that New York is colder than Maine, it’s just that you spend a lot more time outside there doing basic things, like walking to and from the train. After a few weeks of freezing my ears off, I did what any resourceful knitter would do,
and knit myself a hat ... which I promptly lost on the subway. I lost my next handmade hat in a store, and yet another got left behind in a cab. I tried making a hat with earflaps that tied around my neck, and somehow still lost it! Clearly I needed an accessory that would be easy to flip on and off, without getting lost, and that’s how the first harf was born! Finally, an accessory that kept my ears warm, didn’t mess up my hair, and best of all, was hard to lose. In fact, in the twenty or so years I’ve been making them, I’ve yet to lose a single harf! The buttoned neck band makes it easy to slide back like a hood when you go inside, rather than risk it falling out of your pocket or getting put down by accident. The overall design is flattering for all kinds of face shapes, and I’ve got plenty of yarn options for you to choose from at Fiber & Vine. This winter, join me in knitting a timeless design that is just as stylish on Main Street as it is in Manhattan!
Finished Measurements:
16” opening around face,
measured around top of head, earlobe to earlobe.
Yarn:
2 skeins Cascade 128 (100% superwash merino wool, 128 yards each ) or 200 yards bulky weight yarn.
Needles:
US 9 24” circular, used as straight needles, or size needed to obtain gauge.
Spare single or double pointed needle in same size.
Gauge:
14 sts = 4” in stockinette stitch.
Notions:
Tapestry needle, stitch markers, one large button.
Abbreviations:
K= knit; P=purl; Pm= place marker; Kfb= knit into front and back of stitch; K2tog= knit 2 together; Ws= wrong side; Sts= stitches.
Make Button Tab:
Using preferred method cast, on 14 stitches. Row 1: Knit.
Row 2: Kfb, k to last 2 sts, kfb, k1. (16 sts) Repeat rows 1 & 2 once more. (18 sts)
Row 5: K8, cast off next 2 sts, k to end.
Row 6: Kfb, k to cast off space, cast on 2 sts, k
to last 2 sts, kfb, k1. (20 sts)
Knit all rows until tab measure 5”
Make Hat:
Row 1: Pm, using cable method cast on 56 sts,
pm, cast on 20 sts. (96sts)
Row 2: K to first marker, slip marker, (k1, p1) rib to next marker, slip marker, k to end. (96sts)
Repeat row 2, 4 more times establishing 1x1 rib between markers.
My sample shows a button on the right side of the neck, for a button on the left instead, work row 2 once more. A button on the left is more convenient for right handed folk.
Row 7: K to first marker, (k9, kfb) twice, k 16, kfb, k 9, kfb, knit to end. (100 sts total, 60 between markers, 20 on each side)
Row 8: (ws): K to first marker, p to next marker, k to end.
Row 9: Knit.
Repeat rows 8 & 9 until piece measure 6”
ending with a wrong side row.
Decrease for back of head:
Row 1: K to first marker, (k8, k2tog) to next
marker, k to end. (94 sts)
Row 2: and all even # rows (ws): K to marker, p to next marker, k to end.
Row 3: K to first marker, (k7, k2tog) to next marker, k to end. (88 sts)
Row 5: K to first marker, (k6, k2tog) to next marker, k to end. (82 sts)
Row 7: K to first marker, (k5, k2tog) to next marker, k to end. (76 sts)
Row 9: K to first marker, (k4, k2tog) to next marker, k to end. (70sts)
Row 11: K to first marker, (k3, k2tog) to next marker, k to end. (64 sts)
Row 13: K to first marker, (k2, k2tog) to next marker, k to end. (58 sts)
Row 15: K to first marker, (k1, k2tog) to next marker, k to end. (52 sts)
Row 17: K to first marker, ( k2tog) to next marker, k to end. (46 sts)
Next Row: K to first marker, cut tail 10” long and use a tapestry needle to thread the tail through the next 6 stitches to next marker.
Fold work in half with ws facing you. Work three needle bind off using a spare needle and the remaining tail. Sew in tails, wet-block and enjoy some fun in the snow, or shopping your favorite Main Street! Y
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