Here is a simple pattern you can use to create a warm comfortable helmet liner for our troops in Afghanistan and Iraq when the seasons change and cold weather approaches.

Materials:

• Cascade 220 or any soft wool yarn that will knit to gauge. Approx. 175 yds. (5 hanks of 220 will make 6 hats).

NOTE: PLEASE USE ONLY WOOL YARN. 100% WOOL CAN BE PURCHASED AT MICHAELS AND THAT YOU HAVE TO ASK FOR IT. IT IS NOT ON THE SHELVES. Helmet liners made of synthetic fibers cannot be worn by Marines in combat areas.

• Colors allowed by the military are: black, charcoal, brown, tan, olive drab.
• Size 8 - 16” circular needle, or size to get gauge and same size double point needles.
• Size 6 -16” circular needles for the ribbings
• One stitch marker.
• Gauge: 4.5 st./in.

Instructions:

Neck: With smaller circular needle, cast on 84 stitches loosely. Place marker. Join in round and knit in 2x2 rib for 6 inches. (Note: This used to read 4 inches but feedback from soldiers to Linda Swinford led to a revision. There should be 6 inches of neck ribbing. Thank you!)

To make hat portion: With larger circular needle, knit 32 stitches off smaller needle. Leave smaller circ.in rest of the stitches, cast on 59 additional stitches, place marker to mark beg of round, join in round, K even for 4”. 1st dec row: *K11, K2 tog,* repeat to end of round. Next row: Knit even. 2nd dec row: *K10, 2tog,* repeat to end. Next row: knit even. Change to DP needles when necessary. Continue decreases as established until K2, K2tog. After this, decrease every row until 7 stitches on needle. Cut yarn 8-9” long, feed through remaining stitches and weave in.

Ribbing around face: (This portion has been revised from original instructions, based upon feedback from soldiers. Please use these instructions entirely rather than any older instructions you may have. Thank you.). With smaller needle still in neck portion, PU stitches around face. Join in circle and K in 2x2 ribbing for 1 inch. On last row of ribbing, decrease in a total of 8 purl stitches by P2tog (4 sets on each side of face, i.e. 10:00, 2:00, 4:00 and 8:00). This will pull the ribbing in close to their face. BO in ribbing and work in tail. BO around face can be snug.

Washing Instructions

WOOL. Do NOT put in washer or dryer; or it will shrink.
HAND WASH ONLY with mild soap in COLD water.
Lay flat to dry. Avoid exposure to direct sunlight.