Canadian Cheer

We are knitting our way through the Olympics this week, one hand holding onto our needle and the other waving wildly as the medal count grows.  Congratulations to Huntsville's golden girl Dara Howell who raced to gold with her score of 88.8 in Sochi's women's slopestyle event.

To celebrate our hometown victory, here is a new toque to knit up in an evening- 
 

 

Maple Leaf Toque

SIZES:        Women                       Men

Width-         53 cm/21 ins                  58.5 cm/23 ins

YARN:  100g ball of CLASSIC WOOL ROVING in Black, Cherry, and Aran

NEEDLES:  5 mm and 6 mm
TENSION:  15 sts and 20 rows = 10 cm/4 ins over st st on 6 mm needles

With smaller needles, cast on 86 (94) sts in BLACK.  Work in K2/ P2 ribbing for 10 cm/4 ins ending with a RS row.  Dec 7 (9) sts evenly spaced across last row = 79 (85) sts.  Change to larger needles and cont in st st, work 2 rows in BLACK.  Work 2 rows in ARAN.  Cont in st st, working chart over centre 17 sts (maple leaf is worked in CHERRY using intarsia method).  When all 20 rows have been completed from chart, cont across all sts with CREAM for 1 row.  Change to BLACK and work 1 row. 

Shape Top:
Next Row- [K 4, k2tog] rep, end with, k1
Work in st st for 3 rows
Next Row- [K3, k2tog] rep, end with, k1
Work in st st for 3 rows
Next Row- [K2, k2tog] rep, end with, k1
P 1 row
Next Row- [K1, k2tog] rep, end with, k1
P 1 row
Next Row- [K2tog] rep, end with, K1
P 1 row
Next Row- [K2tog] rep, end with, K1
Cut yarn and thread through rem sts, tighten and secure. 
Sew seam.
Make a 10 cm/4 ins pompom using ARAN. 
Attach to top of toque.