If you want to keep your whole head warm or if you want to rob a bank, have we got a knitting pattern for you. Knit a 1970s balaclava for yourself or for your favorite vintage lover. With a nordic pattern knitted in, anyone who wears this is eye catching style is going to see (through the eyeholes) and be scene. If you don’t want to quite as much coverage, there’s always the option for a full facial opening.
Yes, we are providing the directions for both the 1970s balaclava open face and face mask. Life is too short to have only one option. (Thought: imagine how disappointed the model must have been when they saw that the hats they were modeling was not going to show off their finely manicured eyebrows or their chiseled chin.)
Bernat Berella “4,” the original yarn, was a worsted weight acrylic.
Uncertain about knitting from a chart? Or wondering about how comfortable all that yarn carried across the back will be? Don’t hesitate to knit these hats in a solid color or stripes.
Here’s the instructions for the first of the two balaclavas, the one with the open face.
Now the instructions for full face balaclava.
Whatever you do, don’t forget to add the cherry on the sundae! Here’s a tutorial for making a pom pom.
These 1970s balaclava patterns come from one of our favorite vintage knitting booklets, Bernat Hats, Scarves and Mittens (1977). While vintage hats are out there, there is nothing better than knitting one with new materials from a vintage pattern.
