The Royal British Legion is backing a project to knit beanie hats for the troops in Afghanistan. Temperatures there soar during the evening then plummet at night. Help us to support them by knitting a simple beanie hat.

Instructions

Only 100% pure wool is allowed for these hats due to fire / accident risk whilst troops are on patrol. Other wools will stick to the skin.

The WOOL BAND has to be handed in along with the completed hats (any leftover wool can also be handed in as this will go towards knitting other hats) so the troops will know what the hats are made from. We will photocopy any extra bands required as one and a bit hats can be made out of a 50g ball .

The colour of the wool is also important. Colours such as black, grey, sandy, dark green, beige (or similar colours) are suitable. Bright colours are not suitable as they would make the troops obvious targets.

Please either (i) leave your completed hat(s) (along with the wool bands and any spare wool) at Jim’s Wools, Chester Market for collection, or (ii) send them to:- Mrs Diana Cieluch 01829 262561.

All the hats, when sent to the troops, will have a message saying that it is the TRBL and their friends who are donating the hats.

Thank you for your support.

Pattern

Just one ball of 100% wool needed in a dark colour.

With size 7 (4 ½metric) needles, cast on 90 stitches.

Knit 4 rows of K1, P1 rib.

Cast on 1 stitch at the end of last row, making 91 stitches.

Row 5 – Knit.

Row 6 – Purl.

Continue in stocking stitch (1 row K, 1 row P), until work is 6 inches in all.

Begin Decreasing:

Row 1 (K11, K2 together) 7 times = 84 stitches.

Row 2 Purl.

Row 3 (K10, K2 together) 7 times = 77 stitches.

Row 4 Purl.

Row 5 (K9, K2 together) 7 times = 70 stitches.

Row 6 Purl.

Row 7 (K8, K2 together) 7 times = 63 stitches.

Row 8 Purl.

Row 9 (K7, K2 together) 7 times = 56 stitches.

Row 10 Purl.

Row 11 (K6, K2 together) 7 times = 49 stitches.

Row 12 Purl.

Row 13 (K5, K2 together) 7 times = 42 stitches.

Row 14 Purl.

Row 15 (K4, K2 together) 7 times = 35 stitches.

Row 16 (P2 together, P3) 7 times = 28 stitches.

Row 17 (K2, K2 together) 7 times = 21 stitches.

Row 18 (P2 together, P1) 7 times = 14 stitches.

Row 19 (K2 together) 7 times = 7 stitches.

Row 20 (P2 together) 3 times, K1 = 4 stitches.

Row 21 (K4 together) – Cast Off.

Sewing

Please be careful to sew hat up with a ‘Flat’ seam as a thick seam would be uncomfortable to wear.