I had promised to knit a new hat for my longtime gaming buddy, Tony. His trusty decade-old hat had seen better days, so it was time to refresh his winter wardrobe. Knowing Tony’s fondness for green and purple, I raided my yarn stash, which, thanks to my green-obsessed husband and my purple passion, offered a plethora of options.
Among the vibrant hues, Tony was drawn to a green skein I had dyed ages ago during my yarn-dyeing experiments. The yarn featured a rich tapestry of greens, reminiscent of the early spring woods, as he eloquently described it. The challenge was finding a texture that would complement the variegated yarn, providing both visual appeal and tactile interest to the project.
PATTERN NOTES
This versatile hat pattern is worked from the bottom up, allowing you to craft a hat that fits perfectly. The construction involves starting with the brim, progressing to the body, and culminating with the crown decreases. As you approach the final stages of the crown, you’ll need to switch from using 16” / 40 cm circular needles to either the magic loop method or double-pointed needles, depending on your personal preference for tackling smaller circumferences.
One of the outstanding features of this hat pattern is its adaptability to multiple sizes. This pattern is designed to be worked seamlessly in the round and offers written directions.
TIPS & TRICKS
For helpful resources on general hat knitting, please visit;
https://rhyflowerknits.com/hats/
PATTERN SUPPORT
Please see our Pattern Support page regarding pattern support for our freebie patterns; https://rhyflowerknits.com/pattern-support/
SKILL LEVEL
Easy
SIZE INFORMATION
Baby [Toddler, Child/Teen, Adult, Large Adult]
16 [18, 20, 22, 24]” / 40.5 [45.5, 51, 56, 61] cm
FINISHED MEASUREMENTS
14.25 [16, 17.75, 19.5, 21.25]” / 35.5 [40, 44.5, 49, 53.5] cm circumference — select a size from the finished measurements that is 1-3” / 2.5-7.5 cm smaller than your head circumference. This hat is intended to be worn with negative ease. 6.5 [7.25, 8, 9, 10]” / 16.5 [18.5, 20.5, 23, 25.5] cm in length.
NOTIONS
Tapestry needle, cable needle, stitch markers (up to 8 — one that is different from the others to denote the beginning of the round)
SUGGESTED NEEDLES
Brim: US6 (4 mm) 16” (40 cm) circular needles, or one size smaller than needles used for gauge
Body: US7 (4.5 mm) 16” (40 cm) circular needles, or the size required to obtain gauge
Crown: Same needle size as the body using preferred needles for a small circumference (magic loop or double-pointed needles)
YARN REQUIREMENTS
68 [86, 104, 131, 158] yds / 62 [79, 95, 120, 144] m worsted weight yarn
SAMPLE YARN
rhyFlower Knits – Worsted
100% Superwash Merino
220 yds (201 m) / 3.5 oz (100 g)
Colour: Mossara
GAUGE
24 stitches by 32 rounds in pattern motif on larger needles = 4” / 10 cm, after blocking. Gauge is crucial in obtaining the correct fit. Changes in gauge will result in a size difference for both your finished hat and the yardage requirements for your project.
PATTERN MOTIF
(multiple of 2 stitches and 4 rounds)
Rounds 1-2: K2.
Round 3: Sl1, k1.
Round 4: Sl1 wyib, p1.
ABBREVIATIONS
BOR: Beginning of round.
Dec: Decrease.
K2tog: Insert the right needle into 2 stitches simultaneously and knit the 2 stitches together. (1 st dec.)
K: Knit.
M: Marker.
P: Purl.
Pm: Place marker.
Rep: Repeat.
Rm: Remove marker.
Sl1 wyib: Slip 1 stitch purlwise with yarn in the back.
Sm: Slip marker.
Ssk: Slip 2 stitches, one at a time, knitwise. Knit the slipped stitches together through the back loops. (1 st dec.)
St (Sts): Stitch(es).
DIRECTIONS
Using the Old Norwegian Cast-on and your smaller needles, cast on 64 [72, 80, 88, 96] stitches. Place a stitch marker to denote the beginning of the round and join to work in the round, ensuring not to twist.
BRIM
Continue with smaller needles.
Round 1: *K1, p1; rep from * across round.
Continue working Round 1 until the piece measures 1.25 [1.5, 2, 2, 2.25]” / 3 [4, 5, 5, 5.5] cm, measured from the cast-on edge.
BODY
Switch to your larger needles.
Rounds 1-2: Knit across round.
Round 3: *Sl1 wyib, k1; rep from * across round.
Round 4: *Sl1 wyib, p1; rep from * across round.
Continue working Rounds 1-4 until the piece measures 4.75 [5.25, 5.75, 6.5, 7.25]” / 12 [13.5, 14.5, 16.5, 18.5] cm, measured from the cast-on edge, or until the piece measures 1.75 [2, 2.25, 2.5, 2.75]” / 4.5 [5, 5.5, 6.5, 7] cm less than your desired length, ending after having completed Round 4 to maintain the motif through the crown.
CROWN
When your crown becomes too difficult to work comfortably on the circular needles, switch to magic loop or double-pointed needles.
Setup: *K6 [7, 8, 9, 10], k2tog, pm; rep from * to last 8 [9, 10, 11, 12] sts, k6 [7, 8, 9, 10], k2tog. 7 [8, 9, 10, 11] sts remaining between each M.
Round 1: *Knit to last 2 sts before marker, k2tog, sm; rep from * to last 2 sts before BOR marker, k2tog. (1 st dec between each M.)
Round 2: *Sl1 wyib, k1; rep from * across round slipping markers as you come to them.
Round 3: *Sl1 wyib, p1; rep from * across round slipping markers as you come to them.
Round 4: *Knit to last 2 sts before marker, k2tog, sm; rep from * to last 2 sts before BOR marker, k2tog. (1 st dec between each M.)
Repeat Rounds 1-4 two [two, three, three, four] more times. Sizes – [Toddler, -, Adult, –], work Round 1 – [once, -, once, –] more. All sizes will now have 1 stitch remaining between each marker, 8 stitches total.
Final Round: Knit across round, removing markers as you go.
CINCHING THE CROWN
Cut yarn, leaving a 6” / 15 cm tail, for closing the crown and weaving in. With your tapestry needle, run yarn through your remaining stitches and pull gently to cinch the crown of your hat.
FINISHING
Weave in all your ends and soak your hat in water for 20 minutes with a gentle soap or wool wash. Block your hat with a balloon, or mannequin head, or lay it flat to dry. Let air dry completely. Happy Knitting!