Berroco Calima Hat Knitting Pattern

Berroco Calima Knitting Pattern: Hat and Mittens Set

Project Overview

The Berroco Calima pattern, designed by Brenda York, offers an intermediate-level knitting project featuring a coordinated hat and mittens set. This downloadable PDF pattern provides instructions for creating two complementary accessories using stranded colorwork techniques. The hat measures approximately 20 inches around and 10 inches high, while the mittens measure approximately 8 inches around the hand and 10½ inches long with adjustable length options.

Yarns Used

This pattern combines two distinct Berroco yarn products to create visual interest through color contrast:

• Berroco Ultra Wool DK (100 grams per ball): Used as the main color (MC), with shade #83147 Stonewashed. One ball is required for the hat and one ball for the mittens. If making both pieces, purchase 2 balls total of the main color.
• Berroco Pixel (100 grams per hank): Used as the contrasting color (CC), with shade #2257 Peach. One hank is required for the hat and one hank for the mittens. If making both pieces, one hank of the contrasting color is sufficient.

Needles and Notions

The pattern requires specific needle sizes and additional supplies:

• For the hat: One 16-inch circular needle in size 6 (4.00 mm), one set of double-pointed needles in size 6 (4.00 mm), one stitch marker, and a tapestry needle
• For the mittens: One set of double-pointed needles in size 6 (4.00 mm), three stitch markers, waste yarn to hold thumb stitches, and a tapestry needle

Gauge and Tension

The pattern specifies a gauge of 26 stitches and 30 rounds equal 4 inches when working stockinette stitch over the provided charts. Checking gauge before beginning the project is essential to ensure accurate finished measurements and proper fit.

Construction Techniques

The Calima pattern employs several key knitting techniques:

• Worked in the Round: Both the hat and mittens are constructed using circular and double-pointed needles to create seamless, tubular pieces without side seams.
• Bottom-Up Construction: The pieces are worked from the cast-on edge upward, allowing for easy length adjustments, particularly in the mittens.
• Seamless Design: The in-the-round construction eliminates the need for seaming, creating a smooth, professional finish.
• Stranded Colorwork: The pattern incorporates stranded knitting techniques using two colors worked simultaneously. When working the chart, colors not in use are carried along the wrong side of the work at the beginning of rounds. To prevent long loops, the pattern instructions recommend twisting the colors together every other round.

Hat Construction Details

The hat begins with a cast-on of 130 stitches using the main color and a 16-inch circular needle. After placing a marker to denote the beginning of the round, the piece is joined for working in the round. The pattern starts with a ribbed set-up section worked in a knit-one-through-the-back-loop and purl-one pattern, repeated around until the piece measures 1 inch from the beginning. The contrasting color is then joined, and the knitter works from the provided chart, repeating the 26-stitch chart pattern 5 times around. The chart is worked even until completion, after which the contrasting color is fastened off.

Mittens Construction Details

The mittens follow a similar in-the-round construction method using double-pointed needles. The pattern accommodates thumb placement using waste yarn to hold thumb stitches temporarily, allowing for seamless thumb integration. Three stitch markers are used to track pattern repeats and construction sections. Like the hat, the mittens incorporate stranded colorwork using the same two yarns and chart-based pattern.

Skill Level

This pattern is rated at an intermediate skill level, making it suitable for knitters with experience in basic techniques who are ready to tackle stranded colorwork and in-the-round construction methods.