This pattern comes from a book published for the ‘Hilfsaktion Des Kriegsfursorgeamtes “Kälteschutz”‘ (Relief Campaign “Cold Weather Protection” by the War Welfare Office). This was headed by Viktor Mataja, the then Royal Minister of Trade in Vienna. So your humble author may have fibbed a little when mentioning the next pattern is of German origin.
This book contains a multitude of things ranging from essays by Viennese authors and artists to a list of donors (most of which of some note) and of course, some knitting patterns.
This relief campaign was meant to collect money to provide Austro-Hungarian soldiers with adequate clothing during the colder months. One of the efforts was to sell so called “Kälteschutzplakette” which were sold for 2 crowns a piece. This alone raised 136.500 crowns in 1915 which equates to around $1,154.22 or €1.005,56.
The bellow pattern for a ‘scheehaube’ (or snowcap in English) is one of the patterns that is provided in this book. It’s a finely knitted balaclava, worked up on thin needles with thin yarn.
Abbreviations and terms:
- K1; Knit one
- P1: Purl one
- Knitting plain: knit stitch/garter
Materials :
- 2mm double pointed needles or circulars
- Roughly 200g of sock yarn
- Stitch savers, scrap yarn or extra needles to save live stitches
Instructions:
Setting up – Cast on 80 stitches.
Knit 2 purl 2 ribbing for 35 rows
Put these 80 stitches on a separate needle or stitch saver.
Knit a second panel as mentioned above. Once you have 2 panels of 35 rows each, join them in the round.
Work another 45 rows in k2, p2 ribbing
Face opening – At the start of your round, knit 15 stitches. Put the next 50 stitches on hold on whatever method you prefer. Knit the remaining stitches. This makes the opening for the face.
Going back and forth on the remaining stitches, knit another 70 rows.
Crown – The crown is knit as one big German short row. Not too dissimilar to a boomerang heel on a sock
Knit 37 stitches. Now we will only work with the next 26 stitches as followed:
Row 1: K2, p2 to the end of your 26 stitches. Turn.
Row 2: K2, p2 your 26 stitches, slip one stitch, turn.
Repeat this until all stitches have been worked.
Now pick up 45 stitches on either side of the face opening. Knit 15 rows of k2, p2 ribbing.
Cast off with a stretchy bind off of your choice and weave in ends.
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