How to Knit a Cozy Wool Mask
You’ll Need:
Karabella Aurora 8 [100% Merino Wool; 98yd/90m per 50g ball]; Color: #22 Charcoal; 2 balls Cascade 220 [100% Wool; 220yd/201m per 100 skein]; Color: #8229 Heather Grey; 1 skein (approx. 10yd/9m used).
Circle knitting needles 3.74 and 4 mm.
Crochet hook 4 mm.
Stitch markers.
Tapestry needle.
Stitch Control:
24 sts x 32 rows = 10 x 10 cm in stockinette stitch.
Instructions
Using the smaller circular needle and main color (MC), cast on 80 stitches. Place a marker and join to begin working in the round, being careful not to twist.
Work in 2x2 Rib until the work measures 4 inches.
Using the larger needle, knit 1 round.
If omitting slots for helmet straps, knit 2 rounds instead of the 2 rounds described below.
Add Slots for Helmet Straps
Next Round: Knit 12, bind off 8 stitches, knit 39 (40 stitches on the right needle after bound off stitches), bind off 8 stitches, knit to the end of the round.
Next Round: [Knit to bound off stitches, cast on 8 stitches] twice, knit to the end.
If omitting ponytail slots, knit 10 rounds and proceed to the Dividing Round below.
Add Ponytail Slots
Knit 4 rounds.
Next Round: Knit 16, bind off 8 stitches, knit 31 (32 stitches on the right needle after bound off stitches), bind off 8 stitches, knit to the end of the round.
Next Round: [Knit to bound off stitches, cast on 8 stitches] twice, knit to the end.
Knit 4 rounds.
Dividing Round
Knit 10; place the last 20 stitches worked on hold on the smaller needle (leave stitch marker in place); knit 60.
Work 55 rows back and forth in stockinette stitch over the remaining 60 stitches; work measures 7 inches from the dividing round, ending with a wrong side (WS) row.
Shape Top of Mask
Row 1 [Right Side (RS)]: Knit 40. Turn work.
Row 2 [Wrong Side (WS)]: Purl 20. Turn work.
Row 3 [RS]: Slip 1, knit 18, knit 2 together through back loop (k2tog tbl). Turn work.
Row 4 [WS]: Slip 1, purl 18, purl 2 together (p2tog). Turn work.
Repeat these 2 rows 19 times more. All stitches have been worked; 20 stitches remain.
Shape Face Opening
Knit 20; pick up and knit 36 stitches along the edge of the face opening (2 stitches for every 3 rows); knit held stitches, retaining stitch marker; pick up and knit 36 stitches along the side edge of the face opening. Total: 112 stitches.
Knit to the stitch marker at the center bottom of the face opening; this is the beginning of the round.
Knit 8 rounds.
Shape Forehead
Knit 61, wrap and turn (w&t). Purl 10, w&t.
Knit 13, w&t. Purl 16, w&t.
Knit 19, w&t. Purl 22, w&t.
Knit 25, w&t. Purl 28, w&t.
Knit to the end of the round.
Shape Lower Face
Knit 10, w&t. Purl 20, w&t.
Knit 25, w&t. Purl 30, w&t.
Knit to the end.
Knit 3 rounds.
Decrease Round
[Knit 1, knit 2 together (k2tog)] to last stitch, knit 1. Total: 75 stitches.
Bind off all stitches.
Note: The face opening is finished using crochet. If you prefer not to crochet, knit 3 more rounds after the Decrease Round before binding off.
