Free Knitting Pattern: Mohair Beanie

This was my first time knitting with such a hairy wool, and although it took some getting used to, the end result was worth it. Soft, fluffy and cosy - I can see myself wearing this for most of the winter.

This pattern's really simple - all you need to know is knit and pearl as well as how to decrease. Even though mohair is quite thin, I found this worked up quite fast, about 3 to 4 days in total. Also, this is quite a nice project to sit in front of a film with - no intarsia or cabling to concentrate on (hooray!).

You Will Need:

• 300g Mohair Wool
• 3mm Needles
• 3.5 mm needles

Abbreviations:

• Sts = stitches
• K = Knit
• P = Pearl
• R = Row
• K2tog = Decrease by knitting two stitches together

Note: Knit side = right side. The size here is that for an average adult, although you could make it bigger or smaller by beginning with more or less stitches when casting on. Just make sure your number of cast on stitches is a multiple of 12.

Pattern:

Using 3mm needles, cast on 120 sts.
R1: *K2, P2* repeat until end of row.
Keep repeating this row until your ribbing measures 1 inch long.
Change to 3.5mm needles
R1: K across
R2: P across
Work in slip stitch be repeating these two rows until your work measures 18cm from the cast on edge.
Now we can start decreasing!
R1: *K10 sts, K2tog* repeat until end of row (110)
R2: P across
R3: *K9 sts, K2tog* repeat until end of row (100)
R4: P across
R5: *K8 sts, K2tog* repeat until end of row (90)
R6: P across
R7: *K7 sts, K2tog* repeat until end of row (80)
R8: P across
R9: *K6 sts, K2tog* repeat until end of row (70)
R10: P across
R11: *K5 sts, K2tog* repeat until end of row (60)
R12: P across
R13: *K4 sts, K2tog* repeat until end of row (50)
R14: P across
R15: *K3sts, K2tog* repeat until end of row (40)
R16: P across
R17: K2 sts, K2tog* repeat until end of row (30)
R18: P across

Cut off your yarn leaving a long thread. Using a needle, thread your yarn through the remaining 30 sts and pull tight. make up the hat by putting the edges together, right sides facing, so that the ribbing meets at the bottom. Sew along the edges, right the way to the ribbing and then cut off your yarn. Turn your hat right side out, and wear.

You could go the extra mile by putting a pom-pom on top. Just make sure it's a big, fluffy one (when it comes to pom-poms, the fluffier the better). I was originally planning on putting some bear ears on this hat - I just though it would look good with the fluffy wool (and because bear rhymes with mohair - can't resist a rhyme). I chickened out though, I kind of figured that with this hat being such a bright colour AND being fluffy, it didn't really need to have much more going on.

 I really want to make another one of these in a baby pink, I'm just waiting to find the perfect wool.

Let me know if you try this - I'd love to know how you get on with it. If you have any questions (or spot a mistake) about the pattern, please leave me a comment and I'll do my best to help. I'd especially love to hear if you do decide to put bear ears on.