Storm Warning

Storm Warning Knitted Hat by Louise Zass-Bangham

What is Being Made

Storm Warning is an extra-warm lined knitted hat designed by Louise Zass-Bangham as part of the Safe Haven story collection. This fully reversible hat features bold blocks of colour set against a dark sky base, making it a striking accessory piece. The hat is seamless and suitable for intermediate knitters, with sizing options to fit head circumferences of 20"/51cm (S/M) or 22"/56cm (L/XL).

Knitting Techniques Used

This intermediate-level knitting project incorporates several key techniques that build valuable skills:

• Provisional Cast On: Used to create a flexible starting edge that allows for the reversible construction and finishing details of the hat
• Working in the Round: The seamless construction is achieved by knitting in the round, eliminating the need for seaming and creating a smooth, continuous fabric
• 3-Needle Bind-Off: Applied to finish the hat securely while maintaining the reversible quality of the design
• Colourwork Stripes: Simple stripe patterns create the bold colour blocks; no complex intarsia work is required, making this accessible for intermediate crafters

Stitches and Colourwork

The colourwork in Storm Warning uses straightforward striped patterns rather than intricate intarsia techniques. This approach allows the bold colour blocks to stand out effectively against the dark base while remaining manageable for intermediate knitters. The reversible nature of the hat means both sides showcase the striking colour combinations.

Materials and Yarn Specifications

Storm Warning is designed to be knitted with Blue Sky Alpacas Sportweight yarn (or Melange alternative), which is made from 100% baby alpaca. Each 50g skein yields 100m/110yds of yarn.

Yarn Requirements:

• 2 skeins of Denim 522 (A) - the primary dark base colour
• Half a skein each of Scarlet 518 (B), Blue Spruce 545 (C), and Egg Plant 512 (D) - the accent colours that create the bold colour blocks

Needles and Tools

This pattern requires 3.25mm needles in US size 3 and 3.25mm / US size 5 needles, with flexibility to use your preferred method of working in the round (such as circular needles or double-pointed needles). The sport weight yarn paired with these needle sizes creates a fabric dense enough to provide the extra warmth this lined hat is designed to deliver.

Pattern Features

The pattern is clearly formatted for ease of use, with size-specific information clearly marked. Where numbers differ between sizes, the smaller S/M size is listed first with the larger L/XL size provided in brackets. Single numbers apply to both sizes. Knitters are instructed to circle their chosen size throughout the pattern for quick reference while working.