The Birnam Beanie

Hat knitting pattern - PDF digital download which you print off yourself
DK/worsted

Perthshire is called Big Tree Country and this hat was inspired by the millions of leaves which fall in the Autumn here.

This simple leaf pattern is knitted in the round on double ended and circular needles
There are no complex stitches or cables and it knits up quickly

The hat only needs one 50g ball of DK wool
(the hat photographed was knitted in Di Gilpin Lalland DK, a lovely pure wool yarn)
You will also need 3.25 mm double ended needles, a 3.75 mm circular needle (40 cm long), and a stitch marker


The hat was photographed in Birnam Woods in Scotland, home of the Birnam Oak (a huge oak tree estimated to be around 600 years old!) but as it is winter in Scotland at the moment the trees are all 'sleeping' and leafless. (I added a couple of indoor photos as the light outdoors wasn't great)
However this time of year is not lifeless in the woods by the River Tay and we saw several trees with signs of Beaver activity. As beavers were only re-introduced to Scotland in 2009, to see their handiwork (teethwork?) is still a novelty here. So I've included photos of that too :)