As much as I love cable knit, there's something about Fair Isle patterns that just make it fun to wear and a challenge to knit. Of course, I had to try out a beanie with some neutral winter-toned colors (and a MASSIVE pompom on top)!

I think the key to Fair Isle patterns is ensuring that all strands move around the hat together. In sections without switching colors, I still twist the yarn inside the hat every few stitches to ensure that the unused strand of yarn is still moving along the side of the hat with the stitches. 

Yarn: 
Lion Brand Vanna's Choice Size 4 in Silver Heather
Lion Brand Vanna's Choice Size 4 in Beige
Lily Sugar 'n Cream Size 4 in Warm Brown
Red Heart Super Saver Size 4 in Soft White
Lion Brand Vanna's Choice Size 4 in Honey

Needles: 
US 5 circular
US 7 circular
US 7 straight x 4

Using US 5 circular needle, cast on 112 sts with silver heather yarn.
1-7 rnd: *K1. P1* 
Switch to US 7 circular needle. Switch to US 7 straight needles when needed.
1-24 rnd: K following colors in pattern 1
25-26 rnd: K beige yarn
27-32 rnd: K following colors in pattern 2
33 rnd: K silver heather yarn
34 rnd: *K12, K2tog* = 104 sts
35 rnd: *K11, K2 tog* = 96 sts
36 rnd: *K10, K2 tog* = 88 sts
37 rnd: *K9, K2 tog* = 80 sts
38 rnd: *K8, K2 tog* = 72 sts
39 rnd: *K7, K2 tog* = 64 sts
40 rnd: *K6, K2 tog* = 56 sts
41 rnd: *K5, K2 tog* = 48 sts
42 rnd: *K4, K2 tog* = 40 sts
43 rnd: *K3, K2 tog* = 32 sts
44 rnd: *K2 tog* = 16 sts
45 rnd: *K2tog* = 8 sts
Thread yarn through remaining stitches, pull tight, and secure. 
Add pompom formed from all colors.

Smile c:
~michelle

The holidays might be over, but the cold weather isn't. The best part is that many craft stores are having huge yarn sales as part of post-Christmas sales. Yarn sales and cold weather can only mean one thing - more knitting!

Please note that C#F refers to bringing the cable towards the knitter (to the inside of the hat). C#B refers to bringing the cable away from the knitter (to the outside of the hat).

Yarn:
Loops and Threads Cozy Wool Size 6 (one ball barely suffices, preferably use two balls)

Needles:
US 11 circular
US 13 circular
US 13 straight x 4

Using US 11 circular needle, cast on 56 sts.
1-15 rnd: *K1. P1* (for longer brim, use 20 rnds)
16 rnd: *P1. K8. P1. K4*
Switch to US 13 circular needle. Switch to US 13 straight needles when needed.
1 rnd: *P1. C8B. P1. K4*
2-6 rnd: "P1. K8. P1. K4*
7 rnd: *P1. C8B. P1. K4*
8-12 rnd: "P1. K8. P1. K4*
13 rnd: *P1. C8B. P1. K4*
14-16 rnd: "P1. K8. P1. K4*
17 rnd: *P1. (K2tog)4 times. P1. (K2tog)2 times* = 32 sts
18 rnd: *P1. K4. P1. K2*
19 rnd: *P1. C4B. P1. K2*
20 rnd: *P1. (K2tog)2 times. P1. K2tog* = 20 sts
21 rnd: *P1. K2tog. P2tog* = 12 sts
22 rnd: *P2tog. P1* = 8 sts
Thread yarn through remaining stitches, pull tight, and secure. Add pompom. 

Smile c:
~michelle

I absolutely love this beanie. It looks super complex, works with most outfits, and who doesn't love a good slouchy beanie? This pattern is definitely an intermediate to advanced design, but it was a very good practice with cable. It involves quite a bit of yarn, but the Super Saver ball is huge, so one ball of yarn is plenty: I was actually able to make two of these hats with one ball. 

Please note that C#F refers to bringing the cable towards the knitter (to the inside of the hat). C#B refers to bringing the cable away from the knitter (to the outside of the hat). If there are no parentheses (C#()F/B), K all stitches in the cable.  

Yarn: 
Red Heart Super Saver Size 4

Needles: 
US 5 circular
US 7 circular
US 7 straight x 4

Using US 5 circular needle, cast on 100 sts.
5.5 inches (approx. 45 rnds): *K2, P2*
inc rnd: *(K2,P2)2 times, inc 1 st in next st (K), P1, inc 1 st in next st (P), (K2, P2)2 times* = 110 sts
Switch to US 7 circular needle. 
1 rnd: *K2, P2, K2, P2, C4(P2,K2)B, C4(K2,P2)F, P2, K2, P2*
2 and all even numbered rnd: K the knit sts and P the purl sts
3 rnd: *K2, P2, K2, P4, C4B, P4, K2, P2*
5 rnd: *K2, P2, (C4(P2,K2)B, C4(K2,P2)F)2 times, P2* 
7 rnd: *K2, P4, C4F, P4, C4F, P4*
9 rnd: *K2, P2, (C4(K2,P2)F, C4(P2,K2)B)2 times, P2*
11 rnd: *K2, P2, K2, P4, C4B, P4, K2, P2*
13 rnd: *K2, P2, (C4(P2,K2)B, C4(K2,P2)F)2 times, P2* 
15 rnd: *K2, P4, C4F, P4, C4F, P4*
17 rnd: *K2, P2, (C4(K2,P2)F, C4(P2,K2)B)2 times, P2*
19 rnd: *K2, P2, K2, P4, C4B, P4, K2, P2*
20-22 rnd: K the knit sts and P the purl sts
23 rnd: *K2, P2, K2, P4, C4B, P4, K2, P2*
25 rnd: *K2, P2, K2, P2, C4(K2,P2)F, C4(P2,K2)B, P2, K2, P2*
26-28 rnd: K the knit sts and P the purl sts
Switch to US 7 straight needles when needed.
29 rnd: *K2, (P2, K2)2 times, (P2tog)2 times, (K2, P2)2 times* = 100 sts
30 and all even numbered rnd: K the knit sts and P the purl sts
31 rnd: *K2, P2tog, (K2, P2)3 times, K2, P2tog* = 90 sts
33 rnd: *K2, P1, K2, P2tog, K2, P2, K2, P2tog, K2, P1* = 80 sts
35 rnd: *K2, (P1, K2)2 times, P2tog, (K2, P1)2 times* = 75 sts
37 rnd: *(K2, P1)2 times, K2tog, P1, K2tog, P1, K2, P1* = 65 sts
39 rnd: *K2, P1, K2tog, (P1, K1)2 times, P1, K2tog, P1* = 55 sts
41 rnd: *K2tog, P1, (K1, P1)4 times* = 50 sts
43 rnd: *K2tog, (K1, P1, K2tog)2 times* = 35 sts
44 rnd: *K2, K2tog, K1, K2tog* = 30 sts
45 rnd: *K2tog, K1, K2tog* = 15 sts
46 rnd: *K2tog*, K1 = 8 sts
Thread yarn through remaining stitches, pull tight, and secure. 

Smile c:
~michelle