Emerald Peak

Emerald Peak Stranded Colorwork Beanie

What Is Being Made

Emerald Peak is a DK weight stranded colorwork beanie designed by Kali Sierra Berg and available through IsolaHandmade. This downloadable knitting pattern produces a classic winter hat featuring two-color stranded colorwork in a charted design. The pattern is sized to fit four different head circumferences, making it ideal for creating matching sets for families or coordinating gifts for friends.

Sizes and Fit

The Emerald Peak beanie is available in four sizes with finished head circumferences of 17, 19, 21, and 23 inches, accommodating a range of ages and head sizes from children through adults. The largest size requires approximately 115 yards of the main color and 45 yards of the contrasting color.

Knitting Techniques and Stitches

This intermediate-level knitting project uses stranded colorwork as its primary technique, a method where two colors of yarn are carried across the work to create a charted pattern. The colorwork design is described as straightforward, making it accessible for knitters developing their two-color knitting skills.

The base fabric is worked in stockinette stitch, the most fundamental knit stitch pattern, which provides a smooth, classic finish. Shaping is achieved through standard decreases including K2tog (knit two stitches together) and M1L (Make One Left) increases. The pattern uses cast on and place marker techniques for construction and stitch management.

Yarn and Materials

Emerald Peak is designed for DK weight yarn, a lightweight yarn suitable for creating fabric with good drape and definition. The pattern calls for one skein each of two contrasting DK weight colors; the designer specifically recommends Knit Picks Gloss DK (123 yards per skein) for the main color, paired with any contrasting DK weight yarn of your choice. The straightforward colorwork accommodates either solid contrasting colors or hand-dyed yarns for creative variation.

Needles required include US 5 circular needles for the ribbed cuff and US 7 circular needles for the main colorwork sections, with an optional set of US 7 double-pointed needles for the crown decreases. Additional notions include a darning needle for weaving in ends, scissors, and a measuring tape or gauge reader.

Gauge

The pattern is worked at a gauge of 5.5 stitches per inch in stranded stockinette stitch using US 7 needles, which is standard for DK weight yarn and creates a dense, durable fabric appropriate for winter wear.

Design Features

The charted colorwork pattern is adapted specifically for the four different sizes, ensuring proper pattern placement and proportion across all finished hat dimensions. The design encourages creative color choices, whether you prefer a classic solid-and-solid combination or wish to showcase hand-dyed or variegated yarns in the contrasting color.