Color Slouch Hat Knitting Pattern

Color Slouch Hat in Blue Sky Fibers Woolstok

What Is Being Made

The Color Slouch is a striped knit hat designed by Virginia Sattler-Reimer as part of the Traveler Series by Blue Sky Fibers. This slouch hat features all 21 introductory Woolstok colors worked in horizontal stripes throughout the design. The finished hat measures 21 inches in circumference and 10 inches in height, creating a relaxed, slouchy silhouette that works as a versatile accessory suitable for any season.

Techniques Used

This pattern employs fundamental knitting techniques appropriate for advanced beginners. The primary construction method is circular knitting, which creates seamless fabric in the round. The pattern utilizes color changes between rounds to create the distinctive striped effect, with each color typically used for one to three consecutive rounds. Crown decreases are incorporated near the completion of the hat to shape the top, using knit two together (k2tog) decreases worked in a repeating pattern to gradually reduce stitches. Knitters transition from circular needles to double-pointed needles as the crown shaping progresses and stitches no longer fit comfortably on the circular needle.

Stitches Used

The Color Slouch is constructed primarily in Stockinette stitch, which creates a smooth, classic knit fabric. The pattern uses basic knit stitches (k) worked in the round to establish the main fabric. Knit two together (k2tog) decreases are used during the crown shaping rounds to reduce the stitch count and form the hat's tapered top. The pattern also includes standard abbreviations such as cast on (CO) and bind off (BO) for beginning and finishing the hat.

Materials

This hat is knit using Woolstok yarn by Blue Sky Fibers, which is composed of 100% Fine Highland Wool. The pattern requires 21 mini hanks of 5 grams and 12 yards each (one of each introductory color), or alternatively, 21 full-size hanks of 50 grams and 123 yards each, providing approximately 12 yards of each color. Needles required include Size 6 (4mm) 16-inch circular needles and Size 7 (4.5mm) 16-inch circular needles, selected based on gauge requirements, along with Size 7 (4.5mm) double-pointed needles for the crown shaping. Additional notions include a stitch marker and a tapestry needle for weaving in yarn ends. The pattern is worked to a gauge of 20 stitches and 28 rows over 4 inches in Stockinette stitch.