The interplay between the subtly shifting colors of Mini Mochi give this simple hat and mitten set a richly complex look.

Materials
Yarn: Crystal Palace Yarns Mini Mochi (80% Merino Wool, 20% Nylon, 195 yards – 50 gram ball)
3 balls of any color. Shown in #107Autumn Rainbow and #105 Tapestry Rainbow
Crystal Palace Bamboo Needles:
16” circular Size US 2 / 2.75mm and Size US 3 / 3.25mm.
5 double pointed needles size US 2 / 2.75mm and Size US 3 / 3.25mm.
Adjust needle size if necessary to get the correct gauge.
Stitch markers.
Smooth waste yarn.

Finished Measurements
Hat size S (M, L)
Circumference: 17 (19 Ύ, 22 ½)”

Mittens size S (M, L)
Hand circumference above thumb: 7 ½ (8 ½, 9 ½)”

Gauge
34 sts and 34 rows = 4”/10cm over Diamond Chart
in Stockinette St using larger needles.

Abbreviations
Beg- Begin(ning); CO- Cast on; Dec- Decrease; K- Knit; M1- Make 1; P- Purl; Pm- Place a stitch marker on the needle; Rep- Repeat; St(s)- Stitch(es)

Notes
• This design is made with a single color of self-striping yarn. Work with two balls. Label one ball A and the other ball B (each ball in a baggie labeled with a Sharpie pen works well). Be sure each ball starts in a different place in the color sequence.
• For best results, take charge of your colors! While the subtle interplay of light and dark is part of the magic of this design, you don’t want your colors to match up for more than about a row. If you find your A and B yarns are too close in color and you are losing contrast between the parts of the pattern, wind off some yarn from one of the balls until you get to the beginning of the next color.
• This design is worked using the stranded Fair Isle technique. Carry the yarn not in use loosely across the back of the work. There is no need to twist or weave in the strands – you are never stranding across more than 3 stitches.

Stitch Patterns
Corrugated Ribbing
Every round: * K2 with yarn A, p2 with yarn B; rep from * to end of round.
Stripe Pattern
Every round: * K2 with yarn A, k2 with yarn B; rep from * to end of round.
Diamond Chart
Worked in Stockinette St (knit every round)

Directions

Hat
Using smaller circular needles and A, CO 144 (168, 192) sts. Place a marker to indicate beg of round and join, being careful not to twist.
Join B and work in Corrugated Ribbing for 1 ½”.
Change to larger circular needles and work Diamond Pattern from chart for 6 (7, 8)”, or desired length to crown.
Shape crown
Next round: Maintaining Diamond Pattern, * k12 (14, 16) sts, pm; rep from * to end of round – 12 markers including beg of round marker.
Next round – Dec round Note – work all decs in yarn A: * K to 2 sts before marker, k2tog; rep from * to end of round – 132 (156, 180) sts.
Next round: K, maintaining Diamond Pattern between decs and knitting dec sts with yarn A.
Rep last 2 rounds until 12 sts remain, changing to larger double pointed needles when necessary. Break yarn and draw through the remaining sts twice, pull tight and fasten off. Weave in ends. Block as directed below.

Alternate crown shaping – If you just can’t bear double pointed needles or decreasing in pattern, try this “no-decrease origami-style” hat finish:
Continue working even in Diamond Pattern for 2” more. Turn your hat wrong side out, put half the stitches on a spare circular needle, and close the hat with a 3-needle bind off. Turn the hat right side out, bring the two corners together at the center of the bound off seam and sew them down. Weave in ends and block.

Mittens
Using smaller double pointed needles and A, CO 64 (72, 80) sts. Arrange sts evenly on 4 needles and join, being careful not to twist. Join B and work in Corrugated Ribbing for 2”.
Change to larger double pointed needles and work Diamond Pattern from chart for 1”.
Begin Thumb Gusset
Next round:
Right hand only: Work 27 (31, 35) sts in pattern as established, pm, k2 sts with A, pm, work to end of round in pattern as established.
Left hand only: Work 37 (41, 45) sts in pattern as established, pm, k2 sts with A, pm, work to end of round in pattern as established.
Both hands: Next round: Work to marker in pattern, slip marker, M1 with B, k2 with A, M1 with B, slip marker, work in pattern to end of round.
Next 2 rounds: Work to marker in pattern, slip marker, k1 with B, k2 with A, k1 with B, slip marker, work in pattern to end of round.
Next round: Work to marker in pattern, slip marker, M1 with B, k1 with B, k2 with A, k1 with B, M1 with B, slip marker, work in pattern to end of round.
Next 2 rounds: Work to marker in pattern, slip marker, k2 with B, k2 with A, k2 with B, slip marker, work in pattern to end of round.
Next round: Work to marker in pattern, slip marker, M1 with A, k2 with B, k2 with A, k2 with B, M1 with A, slip marker, work in pattern to end of round.
Continue as established, working increase round every 3rd round and working gusset sts in 2-st vertical stripes, until there are 18 (22, 26) sts between markers.
Work 1 round without increases.
Next round: Work in pattern to marker, remove marker, place next 18 (22, 26) sts on waste yarn for holding, CO 2 sts to bridge the gap, remove marker, work in pattern to end of round. 64 (72, 80) sts.
Work even in Diamond Pattern until work measures 6 (6½, 7)” above ribbing.
Shape top
Next round: *K1 with A, ssk with B, work 26 (30, 34) sts in pattern, k2tog with B, k1 with A; rep from * once more – 60 (68, 76) sts.
Next round: *K1 with A, k1 with B, work 26 (30, 34) sts in pattern, k1 with B, k1 with A; rep from * once more.
Next round: *K1 with A, ssk with B, work 24 (28, 32) sts in pattern, k2tog with B, k1 with A; rep from * once more – 56 (64, 72) sts.
Next round: *K1 with 1, k1 with B, work 24 (28, 32) sts in pattern, k1 with B, k1 with A; rep from * once more.
Continue as established, working dec round every other round, working decs with B and 2 sts between decs with A, until 32 (36, 40) sts remain.
Discontinue plain rounds and work decs as established every round until 8 sts remain. Break yarn and draw through the remaining sts twice, pull tight and fasten off.
Thumb
Return held gusset sts to needles. Join yarn and pick up and knit 2 sts at cast on edge of hand – 20 (24, 28) sts. Arrange sts evenly on 4 needles and work in Stripe Pattern, continuing stripes already established on gusset, until thumb measures 1 ½ (2, 2)” from pick up round.
Shape top
Next round – working all decs in yarn A: * Work 3 (4, 5) sts in Stripe Pattern, k2tog; rep from * to end of round – 16 (20, 24) sts.
Next round: Work even in stripe pattern, knitting every k2tog with yarn A.
Next round: * Work 2 (3, 4) sts in Stripe Pattern, k2tog; repeat from * to end of round.
Next round: Work even in stripe pattern, knitting every k2tog with yarn A.
Discontinue plain round and work dec rounds only, working 1 less st between decs on each round, until 8 sts remain. Break yarn and draw through the remaining sts twice, pull tight and fasten off.
Weave in ends and block.

Blocking
With a Fair Isle project, you are not finished until the piece is blocked. When you work with good wool like Mini Mochi, all the little ripples and puckers caused by stranding the yarn smooth out and your knitting becomes a beautiful, cohesive fabric.

Start with a sink filled with lukewarm water and a few drops of a good wool wash. Gently submerge your hat and mittens and let them soak for 5 minutes or so. Drain the water and press the knitting against the side of the sink to squeeze out the excess water. DO NOT twist, wring or in any way abuse. Roll the knitting in a towel to remove even more water. Now shape the damp piece.
For the mittens, lay them flat on a clean towel, patting and smoothing gently until they look perfect.
For the hat, I like to block over a kitchen bowl that is the same circumference as my head to make a nice rounded crown. I put the bowl upside down over a tall vase, then smooth the hat over the top, stretching slightly if necessary. Leave the knitting to dry undisturbed out of the sun in a place with good air circulation.
See? Isn’t that better?!

Special thanks to Sandi Rosner for sharing her beautiful patterns with us.
Watch for workshops and classes taught by Sandi at knitting events around the knitting world!

copyright 2009 Crystal Palace Yarns/Straw Into Gold, Inc. - We are happy to share this free knitting pattern with knitters. The pattern may be used for non-commercial personal or knitting guild use. It is not to be used in any publication in print nor should it be reproduced in electronic/digital format without permission. Knitting shops carrying CP Yarns Mini Mochi are welcome to print and share this pattern with customers of our yarns.

Retail shops in the USA should contact CPY Wholesale for information on purchasing Crystal Palace Yarns and email cpyinfo -at- straw.com (replace the -at- with @)

or write to:
Crystal Palace Yarns, 160 23rd St., Richmond, CA 94804
phone: 510-237-9988,  fax: 510-237-9809