Berroco Applegate Hat Knitting Pattern

Berroco Applegate Knit Hat

What Is Being Made

The Applegate is an intermediate-level knit hat designed by Brenda York. This finished hat measures approximately 20 inches around and 10 inches high, making it a standard adult-sized hat suitable for everyday wear. The design features colorwork detailing that adds visual interest to the crown.

Knitting Techniques Used

This pattern employs several fundamental and intermediate knitting techniques. The hat begins with a ribbed cuff worked in the round on circular needles, which provides stretch and a finished edge. After the ribbed setup, the knitter transitions to stockinette stitch worked in the round, which creates a smooth, classic fabric. The pattern incorporates stranded colorwork using a chart, a technique where two colors are held and worked simultaneously to create a patterned design. The colorwork section repeats a 44-stitch motif three times around the circumference of the hat. Proper color management is emphasized in the instructions to prevent holes and long floats—the pattern recommends holding yarn to the left when changing colors and twisting colors together on the wrong side when carrying yarn across more than three stitches. The hat is completed using top-down construction, transitioning from circular needles to double-pointed needles as stitches decrease toward the crown.

Stitches Used

• Knit through back loop (K1tbl) — used in the ribbed cuff for a twisted stitch effect
• Purl (P1) — alternated with knit stitches in the rib setup
• Stockinette stitch (St st) — the main fabric, created by knitting every round when working in the round
• Stranded colorwork — worked from a chart to create the patterned section of the hat

Materials and Tools

The Applegate pattern calls for two distinct Berroco yarns to create contrast and texture. Berroco Millefiori Light in colorway #6859 Viola serves as the main color (MC), requiring one 100-gram ball. Berroco Ultra Wool Fine in colorway #5301 Cream functions as the contrast color (CC), also requiring one 100-gram ball. The combination of these two yarns—one a variegated or specialty yarn and one a solid fine wool—creates visual depth in the finished hat.

Needles required include 16-inch circular needles in sizes 5 (3.75 mm) and 7 (4.50 mm), allowing the knitter to work the ribbed cuff on the smaller needles for a tighter gauge and transition to larger needles for the body. A set of double-pointed needles in size 7 (4.50 mm) is needed for the crown decreases when stitches no longer fit comfortably on the circular needle. Additional notions include one stitch marker for tracking the beginning of rounds and a tapestry needle for weaving in ends.

Gauge and Sizing

The pattern specifies a gauge of 26 stitches and 28 rounds over 4 inches in stockinette stitch worked on the larger needles. Achieving correct gauge is essential for obtaining the finished measurements of 20 inches around and 10 inches high. The pattern emphasizes checking gauge before beginning to ensure accurate fit and sizing.