CHAIN MAIL HOOD

Short Version

Materials

Size 15 knitting needles or size needed to achieve gauge.
1/2 lb. (460 ft) #36 Twisted Nylon Cord, dyed black
Stitch holders (3)

Abbreviations

k: knit
p: purl
psso: pass slipped stitch over
sl: slip
rep: repeat
st(s): stitch(es)
tog: together
inc: increase
dec: decrease
bo: bind off

Gauge (taken in stockinette stitch): 2-1/2 stitches = 1 inch; 3 rows = 1 inch

General Information: Pattern is reverse stockinette st (purl one row, knit one row, with purl as right side of garment). Join new cord at the ends, not in the middle, of the row. Measurements should be taken while garment is laying flat. Piece will open at center front.

Beginning at lower edge, loosely cast on 78 sts.
Row 1: Purl (right side).
Row 2: Purl.
Row 3: Purl.
Cowl Shaping:
Row 4: (K3, k2tog)•, rep from • across, end k3 (63 sts).
Row 5: Purl.
Row 6: Knit.
Row 7: Purl.
Row 8: Knit.
Row 9: Purl.
Row 10: (K3, k2tog)•, rep from •across, end k3 (51 sts).
Row 11: Purl.
Row 12: Knit.
Row 13: Purl.
Row 14: Knit.
Row 15: Purl.
Row 16: (K8, k2tog)•, rep from •across, end k1 (46 sts).
Row 17: Purl.
Row 18: Knit.
Row 19: Purl.
Row 20: Knit.
Row 21: Purl.
Row 22: Knit.
Row 23: Purl.
Row 24: Knit.
Row 25: Purl.
Row 26: Knit.
Row 27: P7, place these 7 sts on holder. P32 and leave on needle.
Place last 7sts on 2nd stitch holder.
Row 28: K32 sts from needle.
Row 29: Purl.
Row 30: Knit.
Row 31: Purl.
Row 32: Knit.
Row 33: Purl.
Row 34: Knit.
Row 35: Purl.
Row 36: Knit.
Row 37: Purl.
Row 38: Knit.
Row 39: Purl.
Row 40: Knit.
Row 41: Purl.

Head Shaping:
Row 42: K20, sl 1, k1, psso. Turn.
Row 43: Sl 1*, p9, p2tog. Turn.
Row 44: Sl 1*, k9, sl 1, k1, psso. Turn.
Row 45: Sl 1*, p9, p2tog. Turn.
Row 46: Sl 1*, k9, sl 1, k1, psso. Turn.
Row 47: Sl 1*, p9, p2tog. Turn.
Row 48: Sl 1*, k9, sl 1, k1, psso. Turn.
Row 49: Sl 1*, p9, p2tog. Turn.
Row 50: Sl 1*, k9, sl 1, k1, psso. Turn.
Row 51: Sl 1*, p9, p2tog. Turn.
Row 52: Sl 1*, k9, sl 1, k1, psso. Turn.
Row 53: Sl 1*, p9, p2tog. Turn.
Row 54: Sl 1*, k9, sl 1, k1, psso. Turn.
Row 55: Sl 1*, p9, p2tog. Turn.
Row 56: Sl 1*, k9, sl 1, k1, psso. Turn.
Row 57: Sl 1*, p9, p2tog. Turn.
Row 58: Sl 1*, k9, sl 1, k1, psso. Turn.
Row 59: Sl 1*, p9, p2tog. Turn.
Row 60: Sl 1*, k9, sl 1, k1, psso. Turn.
Row 61: Sl 1*, p9, p2tog. Turn.
Row 62: Sl 1*, k9, sl 1, k1, psso (11 sts remain).
Cut cord leaving a 3-4" tail. Tie a knot in end of cord.
Place these 11 sts on the 3rd stitch holder.
Row 63: From right side (purl side), attach cord and p7 sts from 1st stitch holder.
Pick up and p13 sts from finished face edge.
P11 sts from next stitch holder.
Pick up and p13 sts from second face edge.
P7 sts from last stitch holder (51 sts).
Row 64: Knit.
Row 65: Purl.
Row 66: Loosely bind off remaining sts.

*Pull cord tightly while slipping stitches.

Finishing: Knot ends of cord, otherwise they will ravel. Stitch the ends of the cord into the piece after weaving them in place to prevent raveling. After work has been foiled and set, stitch the center front seam by butting the edges of the seams together and overcasting, or zigzagging together by machine.

You may choose to finish the center front opening by creating a placket with black grosgrain as follows: cut three pieces of grosgrain the length of the seam plus 1”, this will allow for 1/2 seam allowances top and bottom.  Create a placket underlap by stitching two pieces of grosgrain together with a 1/2” seam at top and bottom.  Topstitch grosgrain together along long edges.  Whipstitch by hand, or stitch with an industrial sewing machine, onto the underlap side.  Whipstitch by hand, or stitch with an industrial sewing machine, the third piece of grosgrain on the overlap side, to the wrong side of the garment.  Sew #3 snaps on both underlap and overlap.

[updated 9 May 2006]