I was so tickled to see on Ravelry how many people were doing the very same thing as me during the Opening Ceremonies of the Event Which Must Not Be Named when speaking of fiber arts.
In reality, probably very few needleworkers were making thread snowflakes like me while watching, although thousands upon thousands were knitting or crocheting something. Many of these needleworkers apparently were doing the very same thing as me... taking notes on favorite hats, sweaters, scarves, jackets, mittens, fingerless mittens, etc., etc., etc., worn by the athletes during the Parade of Nations.
I can be a real oddball when it comes to design taste, so it was thrilling to see other needlecrafters spied some of the same gorgeous knitwear and crochetwear I did and longed for patterns/charts.
My absolute favorite is the Andorran sweaters. Being the Star Trek fan I am, of course, I, too, pictured a blue and white version. But also because I just love blue and white together! I'm thinking I might have to do a knitted cowl inspired by this sweater but in Andorian shades.
The Polish uniforms are pretty cool, too, with gray snowflakes (reminiscent of my Purple Mountain Snowflake) on their jackets and hats.
The Slovakian scarves and hats are a real hit.
Here's a chart for the Slovakian hat.
I like the Slovenian colors and hats. I intend to knit one of the these seed stitch hats, perhaps even in the same colors.
Here's another version of the Slovenian ski hat.
I might have to make one of the Swedish scarves, too, but in different colors. Blue and white. Or purple and white. Or black and white. Oh, the possibilities are endless!
I've charted my version of the Swedish scarf here.
A free pattern for the crochet Swedish hat is located here.
I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the colors of the Lithuanian uniforms!!!
A pattern for the Netherlands ski hat is here.
Here is a link to the free download for the USA knit ski hat pattern.
Not knitted or crocheted, but oh my, is this an outfit or what?!? Katie Uhlaender prepares for the skeleton.
And of course, there is the Norwegian beanie... simple single crochet. I chuckled at the number of knitters trying to determine what knitting stitch was used. Many Ravelers sought a pattern, and two are available free in foreign languages (one is located here), while one version is available for sale. My first thought was to make my own beanie for a Ravellenic medal. After reading an entire Ravelry thread devoted to this one hat, I thought I'd step up my Ravellenic medal difficulty level a bit and write a pattern, too. All in two days' time! (Although I spent a third day re-writing the pattern after accidentally overwriting the original with a blank document. AAAAARGH!!)
The yarn I selected for this project was dyed by me last summer while Mrs. Micawber visited to ride the MS-150 with me. I had only 100 yards of each of the three gradations of my soft, winter blue, and I suspected the finished hat might take at least 150 yards. So I started at the top with the lightest shade, worked about a third of the way down and changed to the medium hue, then finished the last third of the project with the darkest color. I finished the hat off with undyed white instead of the red used in the official hats because, well, as I've said many times, I just love blue and white together!
This beanie is so versatile and may be worked in any color combination, worked in stripe, pinned, patched, beaded, embroidered or otherwise embellished. Use your imagination to make your hat yours!
Why Fjord??? In seventh grade, I had to write a 10-page report and give a 15-minute presentation on the country of Norway, way back before internet. I had to write to agencies in Norway to get photos and travel information, and the mail back then took WEEKS! The day before I was scheduled to give my presentation in front of the class, I still hadn't received anything from Norway. I'd been studying the history as much as I could in our small town library, mostly via encyclopedias. I had no visual aids for my presentation. So I made colorful yarn fjords on a piece of white poster board because that was the only idea I had. Of course, my travel brochures and magazines were waiting for me when I got home from school that day...
Check out Astri's interpretation of this pattern here!
You may do whatever you'd like with hats you make from this pattern, but you may not sell or republish the pattern. Thanks, and enjoy!
Finished Size: 22 inches around, 11.5 inches tall
Materials: Approximately 150 yards worsted weight yarn in blue or desired color, small amount of white or desired color for contrast band, size H crochet hook
Gauge: 7 single crochet = 2 inches; 7 rows of single crochet = 2 inches
NOTE: This pattern is designed to stand taller on the head than the head. To make a shorter version, work fewer rounds to desired length. This pattern is worked tightly to provide a stiffer hat body. This pattern is worked in the round. Do not join at the end rounds unless instructed to do so. To make the hat more narrow, omit half of increases on Round 23 OR all of increases on Round 23 OR half of increases on Round 20 and all of increase on Round 23.
Fjord Beanie Instructions
With main color, make magic ring.
Round 1: 6 sc in ring; do not join. Pull magic circle tight.
Round 2: 2 sc in each sc around for a total of 12 sc.
Round 3: * 1 sc in next sc, 2 sc in next sc; repeat from * around 5 times for a total of 18 sc.
Rounds 4-8: 1 sc in each sc around, increasing 6 times evenly spaced but not directly above increases in the previous Round for a total of 24 sc, 30 sc, 36 sc, 42 sc and 48 sc respectively.
Rounds 9-10: 1 sc in each sc around.
Round 11: 1 sc in each sc around, increasing 6 times evenly spaced but not directly above increases in the previous Round for a total of 54 sc.
If you're not reading this pattern on Snowcatcher, you're not reading the designer's blog. Please go here to see the original.
Rounds 12-23: Repeat Rounds 9-11 4 times for a total of 60 sc, 66 sc, 72 sc and 78 sc respectively.
Rounds 24-40: 1 sc in each sc around. At desired hat length, sl st in next sc; bind off.
Round 41: With contrast color, 1 sc in each sc around.
Round 42, Picot Edge: *1 sc in each of next 3 sc, ch 2, sl st in 2nd ch from hook (picot made); repeat from * all the way around; sl st in next sc; bind off. Weave in ends.
Round 42, Brim Edge: Sl st in next sc, ch 1, turn; 1 sc in each sc around; sl st in next sc; bind off. Weave in ends.
Round 42, Thick Brim Edge: 1 sc over each Round 41 sc around; sl st in next sc; bind off. Weave in ends.
Finish: Embellish with patches, pins, snowflakes or desired enhancement. Wear and stay warm!
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