Every winter as Valentine’s Day rolls around, I’m asked by my knitting students what my favorite gift is to knit for that special someone. Every year without fail I tell them if they want a quick, satisfying knit that gives their loved ones a useful slice of luxury – to go look up “Five Ws and the Number 1” by Kate Davies, who is hands down one of my favorite designers. This project has it all – classic stranded colorwork combined with a luxuriously soft lining in a small and achievable size – an ear warmer. It’s the perfect project for lovers of Fair Isle, as the rows come together quite quickly to create the traditional snowflake motif. For our friends and family who may not love sheepy yarn as much as we do, we can select the softest and most luxurious yarn to line the inside of this headband. The chart is a mere 36 rows long, so even on small needles this project goes quickly, perfect for birthdays and holidays. Just one warning – if you decide to embark on this project, ensure you get enough yarn to knit one for yourself too!

WWWWW #1

Size
One: approx. 220 cm/86.5” long and 30 cm/12” deep at center.

Yarn
Pattern uses five shades of fingering weight yarn  (Shown in Alice Starmore’s wonderful Hebridean 2ply: Selkie, Machair, Dulse, Pebble Beach, Solan Goose) and a small amount (10g) of fingering weight yarn for the lining (shown in orkney angora 4 ply)

Suggested Yarns: Jaimeson’s Shetland Spindrift in five colors & Pascuali Organic Cashmere for the lining

Needles

Other 
stitch markers, tapestry needle for weaving.

Gauge
7 stitches and 7 rows = 1 inch in stockinette stitch