Helmet Liners for the D-Day Museum
Materials
100% wool yarn, worsted weight, 175 yrds
(We recommend one skein of Cascade 220)
16" Circular Size 6 US Needles
16" Circular Size 8 US Needles
Second set Size 8 US Needles (any length)
OR Size 8 double pointed needles
These liners have to fit under already tight-fitting helmets, so the right gauge is vital!
Gauge: On the 8 Needles, 4.5 st/inch in Stockinette Stitch.
Preferred colors are black and brown, but they also accept tan, olive, gray, and brown & tan variegated.
The helmet liner is knitted from the bottom up.
Neck: CO 84 sts with size 6 needles. Place marker and join. (Don't twist!)
Knit in 2 x 2 ribbing for 7".
(In other words, *K2, P2* around and around until the piece measures 7 inches.)
Hat: Switch to size 8 needles by knitting 32 sts off the smaller needle.
Leave the smaller circular needle in the rest of the stitches to hold their place. You will come back to them.
Cast on 60 additional sts. Place marker and join.
Knit for 4 inches (This will make stockinette stitch.) Now it's time to decrease. At some point, the 16" circular needle will be too big. Either put half of the stitches on a second circular needle to continue, or switch to double-pointed needles.
Decrease Row 1: *K11, K2tog* to end of round
Knit next round (85 sts)
Decrease Row 2: *K10, K2tog* to end of round
Knit next round (78 sts)
Decrease Row 3: *K9, K2tog* to end of round
Knit next round
Continue decreases as established until *K2, K2tog,* then decrease every round until 7 stitches remain on the needle.
Cut yarn 8-9 inches long and feed through the remaining stitches with a tapestry needle, and then weave in ends.
Face Ribbing: Go back to the smaller needle and its stitches. Pick up stitches around face, then join and knit in 2 x 2 ribbing for 1 inch.
On the last round of ribbing, decrease 4 times by using P2tog at the 10 o’clock, 2 o’clock, 8 o’clock and 4 o’clock positions around the face. The fit around the face is crucial, so make sure there are no gaps.
Bind off and weave in the tail.
Bring it back to us, and we'll donate it to the D-Day Museum, who will see its distribution to our troops!
