Welcome back to “Free Pattern Friday”, a fresh new free pattern every week! You’ll find today’s pattern at the very bottom of this page. These patterns are available FREE to use on your tablet or smart phone, or print from this location; they are not, at the moment, downloadable. Please see the FAQ tab above if you have trouble printing.
Today’s offering: Birdy Caps, stranded golf club caps for the intermediate knitter. They’re kooky, they’re quirky, they’ll make you a hero on the golf course! They may not improve your stroke, but they will make the game a little more enjoyable. And they’re super fun to knit in bright or classic colors. They’re a portable knit, too, so they make for great cottage, camp or car knitting. They start with a long ribbed cuff in two-round and four-round stripes and continue into a Fair Isle head. Top each one with a fluffy pompom. Three different styles are presented here in color chart form; pick your favorite or work all three. Once you start, they’re hard to put down! They’re a great worsted weight stash buster too!
Have you seen the new Picnic Socks? They were released over the long weekend and I think they’re sweet! I love them in “Meadow Stripes” (Patons Kroy) but I think they’d be adorable in a solid too. Picnic Socks, along with every other pattern in my Ravelry shop are 25% off all weekend long, until Tuesday evening. Just enter the coupon code SUMMER25 at checkout.
Here’s your free pattern for today, Birdy Caps. Happy Knitting!
Birdy Caps
Stranded Golf Club Caps for the Intermediate Knitter
You'll Need
For each of the three Birdy Caps:
YARN: Worsted weight yarn such as Cascade 220 or Ella Rae Classic.
- 150 yds in MC – Main Color
- 100 yds in CC – Contrast Color
- Small amount AC – Accent Color (see each style for details).
NEEDLES: 4.50mm needles, circular for Magic Loop or multiple dpn’s
GAUGE: 20 sts & 24 rows in stranded knitting after blocking
TOOLS/NOTIONS: Removable stitch markers, tapestry needle for weaving in ends, 2″ pompom maker (opt.)
FINISHED DIMENSIONS: 6″ circumference & 10-1/2″ in length at cuff, 9″ circumference & 5″ tall at head
CONSTRUCTION:
- There are 3 styles of Birdy Caps, A, B & C, each with a different Fair Isle motif. Either Magic Loop or multiple dpn’s may be used.
- Golf club caps are worked from the cuff upwards, beginning with 2-rnd stripes, then moving to 4-rnd stripes.
- Heads are worked in the stranded knitting technique
- Topped with a 2″ pompom
Instructions
STYLE A: (Purple/Navy/Orange)
- MC: Purple
- CC: Navy
- AC: Orange
CUFF:
- Using the Twisted German method and AC, CO 40 sts. Join for working in the round, dividing sts evenly over 2 needles for Magic Loop or 12 sts – 13 sts – 12 sts – 13 sts over 4-dpn’s [For a video tutorial on the Twisted German Cast On CLICK HERE]
- Join CC and work 2 rnds in k2, p2 ribbing.
- Join MC and work k2, p2 ribbing in 2-rnd stripes (MC/CC) until been worked. End with 2 rnds in ribbing with CC.
- Continue working k2, p2 ribbing, this time working 4-rnd stripes, until 5 MC and been worked. On last rnd, inc 10 sts evenly spaced (50 sts in rnd).
HEAD:
- Work using AC.
- Work rnds 1 – 24 of Chart.
- Work using AC. During this rnd, dec 1 st at the end of each needle (Magic Loop) or 1 st at the end of Ndls 2 & 4 to 12 sts ea Ndl (4-dpn’s) (48 sts in rnd).
- Work using AC, placing removable markers at the center (every 12 sts) of each Ndl if using Magic Loop. If using 4-dpn’s, you won’t need markers because you have a needle break every 12 sts. Break AC.
Using CC, work the following dec rnd every rnd five times to 8 sts in rnd:
- Dec Rnd: *k2tog, k to 2 before next marker, ssk* repeat around.
Break yarn. Using a tapestry needle, thread through remaining loops and draw up snugly. Fasten off.
FINISHING:
Weave in ends and block to dimensions. Top with a 2″ pompom if desired.
STYLE B: (Yellow/Orange/Navy)
- MC: Yellow
- CC: Orange
- AC: Navy
CUFF: Work as Style A
HEAD:
- Work using CC.
- Work using AC.
- Work rnds 1 – 20 of Chart.
- Work using AC.
- Work using CC. During this rnd, dec 1 st at the end of each needle (Magic Loop) or 1 st at the end of Ndls 2 & 4 to 12 sts ea Ndl (4-dpn’s) (48 sts in rnd).
- Work using CC, placing removable markers at the center (every 12 sts) of each Ndl if using Magic Loop. If using 4-dpn’s, you won’t need markers because you have a needle break every 12 sts. Break CC.
Using MC, work the following dec rnd every rnd five times to 8 sts in rnd:
- Dec Rnd: *k2tog, k to 2 before next marker, ssk* repeat around.
Break yarn. Using a tapestry needle, thread through remaining loops and draw up snugly. Fasten off.
FINISHING:
Weave in ends and block to dimensions. Top with a 2″ pompom if desired.
STYLE C: (Aqua/Green/Orange)
- MC: Aqua
- CC: Green
- AC: Orange
CUFF:
- Work as for Style A until 5 MC and 5 CC 4-rnd stripes have been worked. On last rnd, inc 12 sts evenly spaced (52 sts in rnd). You’ll have 26 sts ea needle for Magic Loop and 13 sts ea needle for 4-dpn’s.
HEAD:
- Work using MC.
- Work rnds 1 – 22 of Chart.
- Work 3 rnds even in MC.
- Place removable markers at the center (every 13 sts) of each Ndl if using Magic Loop. If using 4-dpn’s, you won’t need markers because you have a needle break every 13 sts. Break MC.
Using CC, work the following dec rnd every rnd five times to 12 sts in rnd:
- Dec Rnd: *k2tog, k to 2 before next marker, ssk* repeat around.
Break yarn. Using a tapestry needle, thread through remaining loops and draw up snugly. Fasten off.
FINISHING:
Weave in ends and block to dimensions. Top with a 2″ pompom if desired.
Notes
CLICK HERE for Standard Abbreviations
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