From early childhood I have loved owls, so when we found shortly after moving in here that we have tawny owls living close by I was delighted! We often hear their distinctive call after dark from early autumn to late winter. It was inevitable that I would need to design some owl patterns and I have named these Peffery after the river which flows nearby. I feel very lucky to have Tawny neighbours, especially as in the UK the Tawny Owl was moved onto the Amber List of Birds of Conservation Concern in 2015.

Method: This stranded colorwork hat is knit in the round from the brim up. Featuring cute owls, their distinctive call, and leaves, it can be worked in three or more contrasting colors and topped off with a fluffy pompom.

Please note the colorwork design in this pattern is charted not written out. You need to be prepared to read and work from charts in order to enjoy knitting this design.

Size: This pattern is written in 4 sizes, XS, S, M, and L. Each pdf contains the written instructions and charts for one size.
Sizing has 1.5” – 2.5” (3.75 - 6 cm) of negative ease built in, so choose a size 1.5” – 2.5” (3.75 - 6 cm) smaller than the head circumference of the intended wearer.

Size - Finished Hat Circumference - Suggested Age
XS - 16” (41 cm) - Toddler/Child
S - 18” (46 cm) - Teen/ Women’s S
M - 20” (51 cm) - Women’s M- L/ Men’s S
L - 22” (56 cm) - Men’s M - L

Yarn: This pattern works well with three (or more) solid colors of DK yarn. You can use any DK yarn that you like and with which you can get tension/ gauge.

Please note I do not recommend using yarns with a high cotton content as cotton doesn’t stretch as much as other fibers and this will affect the fit of your hat.

The amounts of each color required will depend on how many colors you pick, where you choose to use them in the hat, and which size you are knitting. As a guide for the hat pictured (size M in three colors) I used the following quantities of Drops Karisma:

MC – 47 Forest Green approx. 110 metres (120 yards)
CC1 – 11 Orange approx. 25 metres (27 yards)
CC2 – 77 Light Oak approx. 25 metres (27 yards)