Nicola Hood

The Nicola Hood is an oversized hood-style balaclava worked seamlessly top down in a combination of stockinette and garter stitch.

First, you work a seamless cast on and work flat for a few rounds. Once the hood is long enough to fit your head, you begin to work the dickie section, which is first knit in garter stitch in the round and then flat to perfectly cover your neck. Afterward, you pick up sts for the hood opening and work a few rounds of ribbing, which is then folded and finished with an i-cord or velvet ribbon closure.

TIP! A variegated, speckled, or tweedy yarn base will elevate this design to the ‘effortless basic with a twist’ category.

Measurements
Neck circumference: 32.5 cm (13”)
Hood opening: 30 cm (12”)

Yarn
One strand of Rachel (100% merino 400m/100g) held together with Elisabeth (72% kid mohair, 28% silk 420m/50g).
Both by Aitana Villa in colorway Paris.
Or
370 meters of fingering-weight yarn held together with the same amount of lace-weight mohair or alpaca.

Needles
­— 4 mm / US 6 circular needle, cable length 40 cm / 16” (or needle size to obtain gauge).
­— 3.5 mm / US 4 circular needle, cable length 40 cm / 16” (or needle size to obtain gauge).

Gauge
21 sts x 30 rows = 10 x 10 cm / 4 x 4” in stockinette stitch on larger needle after blocking.

Notions
Blocking tools, darning needle, stitch counter, stitch markers, and tape measure. Velvet Ribbon (100 cm length) and two metal cord closures.