This is the 4th annual mystery knitalong by Sarah and Ann. This year we are knitting hats. Do join us for the fun!

This MKAL is designed to stretch your creativity by giving you not one, but two options for each section of the hat. We will send out a section of two great linked designs each week and the choice becomes yours for which option to knit.

This innovative MKAL will start with part one of the designs on the 15th of February, followed by Part Two on the 22nd, Part Three on March 1st. The final full pattern will be revealed on the 8th of March with winners chosen and prizes announced for those who have posted pictures of their completed hat in our Ravelry group forum page. You will automatically receive an email with the pattern update on these dates to download the next section. Each part will have one option designed by Sarah Alderson and one option designed by Ann Kingstone. They can be mixed and matched giving you many different hat pattern options!

We will be holding hands with you throughout the MKAL with online video tutorials via YouTube, advice on our blogs, Twitter, Instagram and Facebook, and a live broadcast each week. We would also love you to join us in our Ravelry group where we will have forum threads for each update, spoiler threads and a finished hat thread as well as chat and prize giveaways. We love seeing your colour and yarn choices and sharing with you the fun of a MKAL.

This is an inclusive knitalong, and you are most welcome to join us whatever your ethnic, gender, and sexual identity is. We have in particular planned for the ethnic diversity of our local community to be represented in the pattern photography. This will be published at the end of the MKAL.

Ravelry group: Two Heads Are Better MKAL
Twitter: @AlderSign @AnnKingstone
Periscope: @AlderSign @AnnKingstone
Instagram: @aldersign @annkingstone
Facebook: AnnKingstoneDesigns
Websites: www.aldersign.com www.annkingstone.com

SIZE

To fit head circumferences of up to 52½(56:59½)cm/20½(22:23½)“, measured around the largest part of the head, ie where a hat brim sits.

After blocking the finished hats measure 47¼(51½:55¾)cm/18¾(20½:22¼)“ around at the brim.

There are both beanie and beret options.

MATERIALS

4ply/fingering weight yarn with approximately 400 metres/437 yards per 100g. You will need 50g each of two contrasting shades.
For the prototype hats Sarah used Fonty ‘BB Merinos’ (100% Merino wool) and Baa Ram Ewe Titus, and Ann used Eden Cottage ‘Harewood 4ply’ (100% Bluefaced Leicester wool) and Rachel Coopey ‘Socks Yeah’ (75% Merino wool and 25% nylon/polyamide).

NEEDLES AND NOTIONS

Swatch to determine what needle size you need to use to achieve the tension/gauge given below. Sarah and Ann used 3mm/US 2½ needles for the stranded colourwork sections and 2.75mm/US 2 needles for other elements in the prototype hats. Choose the needle type and length you prefer for small and large diameter circular knitting.

A cable needle (optional).

TENSION/GAUGE

28 stitches and 30 rounds per 10cm/4” in stranded colourwork, measured after blocking.

30 sts and 44 rounds per 10cm/4” in plain stocking stitch/ stockinette, measured after blocking.