Helmet Pattern #S-120

MATERIALS:
CHADWICK'S RED HEART KNITTING WORSTED, 8 balls (1 oz. balls).
Clark's O.N.T. Bone Sock Needles, 1 set No. 5.
Clark's O.N.T. Knitting Pins, 1 pair No. 5.

   Using the pair of needles cast on 74 sts. Work in garter st (k each row) for 7 inches. Next row: K across 19 sts, insert a marker in work, bind off the next 36 sts loosely for neck opening, k remainder of row. Turn and work over last set of 19 sts for 1 inch, ending at neck edge. Break yarn. Attach yarn to other set of 19 sts and work 1 inch, ending at neck edge. Cast on 36 sts for back of neck, then work across 1st set of 19 sts (74 sts on needle). Work straight for 7 inches. Bind off. Using 3 double-pointed needles, and starting at marker, pick up 96 sts around neck edge. Work around in ribbing of k 2, p 2, for 6 inches, ending with p 2 directly above marker. Work across next 11 sts (ending with p 1), bind off the next 20 sts loosely for face opening, then work around to where sts were bound off (76 sts).

Note—To make helmet WITHOUT ear slits and flaps, see last paragraph.

To make helmet with ear slits and flaps. Next row: Turn. With 1 needle work in ribbing across next 20 sts. Slip remaining sts onto 2 other needles. Cast on 12 sts (onto 1st needle) for ear flap. Turn and work back and forth over these 32 sts as follows: 1st row: K 13, work in ribbing over remaining sts. 2nd row: Work in ribbing to last 13 sts, p 13. Repeat these 2 rows 4 more times. Next row: Bind off the 12 sts of ear flap and finish row. Work 1 more row on remaining 20 sts. Break yarn. Attach yarn where sts were divided for ear slit and work back and forth over the next 36 sts in ribbing for 13 rows. Break yarn. Attach yarn to the remaining 20 sts and work to correspond with 1st sec­tion (making ear flap as before, but do not break yarn). Next row: Work in ribbing across the 76 sts on needles, cast on 20 sts for top of face opening, then work around in ribbing as before until piece measures 4 inches from top of face opening.

To Shape Top: 1st and 2nd rnds: K around. 3rd rnd: * Sl 1 st, k 1, p.s.s.o., k 10, k 2 tog., k 2. Repeat from * around (84 sts). 4th and 5th rnds: K around. 6th rnd: * Sl 1 st, k 1, p.s.s.o., k 8, k 2 tog., k 2. Re­peat from * around. Continue decreasing 12 sts in this manner on every 3rd rnd until 24 sts remain. Break yarn, leaving an 8-inch end. Thread end of yarn into a sewing needle and run through remaining sts. Draw tight and fasten securely on wrong side. Work 2 rows of sc around ear flaps.

To Make Helmet Without Ear Slits and Flaps … Work back and forth over the remaining 76 sts in ribbing for 12 rows. Cast on 20 sts for top of face opening, then work around in ribbing as before until piece measures 4 inches from top of face opening. Now follow directions for "To Shape Top."