Steek is an intriquing colourwork hat pattern knitted in a fingering weight yarn, using a highly unusual construction method and unique colourwork pattern.
Steek was inspired by the unusual construction used to create Tait from The Vintage Shetland Project, with vertical panels of colourwork over the surface of the hat. I took this construction method a little further, knitting Steek sideways commencing with a provisional cast-on and ending with a grafted seam.

The colourwork pattern itself is inspired by the beautiful simplicity of the steek charts found throughout the book and in particular the very graphic steek chart of Hilda. I adapted these charts to create a colourwork pattern which creates the illusion of up to five colours in any one row, when in actuality, because of the construction method, there are never more than two colours worked in any one row.

Short rows are worked within the rows to create the crown shaping and once all panels are completed the two ends of the hat are joined by grafting the live stitches together. The brim is then picked up along the bottom edge and knitted downwards.

Steek comes in five sizes and in addition the brim can be easily adapted for sizing adjustments. Steek can be blocked either as a tam, a beanie or a beret depending on the look you prefer.

Steek is shown blocked as a slightly slouchy beanie and Susan is wearing the third size on a head circumference of 55cm (22in).

To make this beautiful hat we have used Byre, a soft, fingering weight blend of Jacobs and Shetland fibres spun exclusively for us in a nearby Yorkshire mill. We have hand dyed four of the five shades to create a warm, autumal palette.

The pattern contains clear written instructions and full colour charts, plus a comprehensive schematic diagram and sizing chart.

Requirements

Susan Crawford Byre, (Fingering weight) 100% British wool (100m/109yds per 25g skein)

1 25g skein each, shades Dry Stone Wall, Loam, Gate Post, Clay, Rusty Tractor

Suggested needles:
Small needles: 2.75mm (US 2) circular needle (80cm in length)

Large needles: 3mm (US 3) circular needle (80-100cm in length) or 1 pair of 3mm (US 3) straight needles
Crochet hook: 3.5mm (US E) hook

Notions:

Waste yarn
Removable stitch marker
Button

Techniques:

Provisional crochet cast-on
Following a chart
Short row shaping
Stranded colourwork
Grafting

Yarn kits are also available from my website offering a considerable discount on purchasing the yarn separately.