Alpine Twist Hat & Mittens in Berroco Ultra Wool - Portfolio4 - Downloadable PDF

Alpine Twist Hat & Mittens in Berroco Ultra Wool — Pattern Summary

The Alpine Twist Hat & Mittens is a coordinating accessories set designed by Jesie Ostermiller and published by Berroco as part of Portfolio Vol. 4. Available as a downloadable PDF, this intermediate-level knitting pattern produces a classically styled, cold-weather hat and mitten pair united by striking twisted cable motifs. The pattern is worked in Berroco Ultra Wool, an aran-weight yarn, and is well suited to knitters who are comfortable working in the round and reading cable charts.

About the Yarn and Materials

The recommended yarn is Berroco Ultra Wool, an aran-weight yarn. Berroco strongly recommends using the specified yarn to achieve the intended results, as gauge and drape are calibrated to this fiber. The pattern is worked on circular needles (in two sizes), with a switch to double-pointed needles (dpns) required when decreasing for the hat crown, as stitches become too few to sit comfortably on a circular needle. A cable needle (cn) is also essential for executing the cable crossings throughout both the hat and mittens.

Gauge

Achieving accurate gauge is emphasized throughout the pattern. Two separate gauges apply:

• 23 stitches and 25 rounds = 4 inches in Cable Pattern on larger needles
• 18 stitches and 24 rounds = 4 inches in Stockinette stitch on larger needles

Because the cable pattern draws in fabric more than plain Stockinette, knitters should swatch in both patterns before casting on to ensure a proper fit.

The Alpine Twist Hat

Construction Method

The Alpine Twist Hat is knitted in the round from the brim upward, a classic bottom-up construction that allows the knitter to try on the hat as they go and ensures a tidy, seamless finish. The hat is offered in one size. As the crown shaping progresses and stitch counts decrease, the pattern instructs knitters to transition from a circular needle to double-pointed needles, dividing stitches across three needles to maintain comfortable tension and control.

Cable Techniques and Stitches

The defining feature of the hat is its Alpine Twist cable pattern, charted in Cable Chart A. This design employs a rich vocabulary of cable crossings, all worked with a cable needle. The stitch glossary defines the following techniques used in the pattern:

• C4B (Cable 4 Back): Slip 2 stitches to cable needle held in back, knit 2 from left-hand needle, then knit 2 from cable needle — creates a right-leaning four-stitch cable cross.
• C3B (Cable 3 Back): Slip 1 stitch to cable needle held in back, knit 2 from left-hand needle, then knit 1 from cable needle — a right-leaning three-stitch cross.
• C3F (Cable 3 Front): Slip 2 stitches to cable needle held in front, knit 1 from left-hand needle, then knit 2 from cable needle — a left-leaning three-stitch cross.
• T3B (Twist 3 Back): Slip 1 stitch to cable needle held in back, knit 2 from left-hand needle, then purl 1 from cable needle — moves a knit column diagonally to the right against a purl background.
• T3F (Twist 3 Front): Slip 2 stitches to cable needle held in front, purl 1 from left-hand needle, then knit 2 from cable needle — moves a knit column diagonally to the left against a purl background.

The combination of C3B, C3F, T3B, and T3F stitches is what produces the characteristic twisting, braided rope effect that gives the pattern its "Alpine