The Spartan Beanie

Asalam Alaikum,
I finally got around to writing up the pattern for Tariq's beanie, so here is my very first pattern!

The Spartan Beanie-
You will need approximately 150 yards of the main color, and 80 yards of the contrast color.
Gauge-For a smaller hat(circumference is 16" un-stretched) use a DK weight yarn at a gauge of 5 stitches per inch, and for a larger hat(circumference is 18" un-stretched) a worsted weight yarn at 4 stitches per inch.
Needles-size US 7(or size needed to get gauge)

CO 81 sts,
Round 1-Join and work around in k2 p2 ribbing. When you come to the last st, pm then k2tog, this counts as the first st of the next round and helps to eliminate the unevenness at the join.
Rounds 2-7 Work k2, p2 ribbing around.
Rounds 8-14 Knit around.
Rounds 15-32 Follow chart below working from right to left, each line repeats 6 times. When working a long stretch of one color, twist the opposite color around the working color on the back of the work every fourth stitch to prevent long floats.
Round 33- Knit around.
Round 34- k38 k2tog, k38 k2tog.
Round 35- k11 k2tog, repeat 6x.
Round 36, 38, 40, 42, 44, 46-Knit around.
Round 37- k10, k2tog, repeat 6x.
Round 39- k9, k2tog, repeat 6x.
Round 41- k8, k2tog, repeat 6x.
Round 43- k7, k2tog, repeat 6x.
Round 45- k6, k2tog, repeat 6x.
Round 47- k5, k2tog, repeat 6x.
Round 48- k4, k2tog, repeat 6x.
Round 49- k3, k2tog, repeat 6x.
Round 50- k2, k2tog, repeat 6x.
Round 51- k1, k2tog, repeat 6x.
Round 52- k2tog, repeat 6x.

Six stitches are left, cut a 6 inch tail, draw through all stitches, secure and weave ends.
Chart-


Notes- When working the chart, try to stretch out the stitches on the right hand needle to help keep the floats loose, so that the stitches will not pucker. This is especially important when working long stretches of a single color.
The technique shown on this site is useful, when changing colors on row 2 of the chart to avoid a "jog" in the stripes. If you have any problems/comments, or spot an error please send me an email to let me know - aoife.wolfATgmailDOTcom