Charente Hat Knitting Pattern

Charente Hat in Berroco Brielle

What is Being Made

The Charente Hat is an intermediate-level knitted beanie designed by Amy Christoffers. This finished hat measures approximately 16 inches around and 10½ inches high (not including the optional pompom), making it a classic, close-fitting winter hat suitable for various head sizes when blocked to the specified dimensions.

Knitting Techniques Used

This pattern employs several fundamental and intermediate knitting techniques to create a structured, polished hat:

• Circular knitting: The hat is worked in the round using a 16-inch circular needle, which creates seamless fabric and allows for continuous knitting without seams.
• Ribbed cuff: The hat begins with 3½ inches of knit-one, purl-one (k1, p1) ribbing worked on the circular needle, which creates an elastic edge that hugs the head comfortably.
• Chart-based colorwork: After the ribbed cuff, the pattern transitions to stockinette stitch and follows a stitch chart with 15 repeats worked around the circumference, introducing color changes between the main color (MC) and contrasting color (CC).
• Decreasing for crown shaping: The top of the hat is shaped using central double decreases (CDD) worked across multiple decrease rounds, gradually reducing stitches from 60 to a small number at the crown.
• Needle transition: As stitches decrease during crown shaping, the knitter transitions from the circular needle to double-pointed needles (dpns) when the remaining stitches no longer fit comfortably on the circular needle.
• Stranded colorwork: The pattern incorporates alternating single-stitch color changes and solid-color rounds, creating a two-color design element in the upper portion of the hat.

Stitches Used

The Charente Hat relies on a limited but essential stitch vocabulary:

• Knit stitch (k): The primary stitch used throughout most of the hat, forming the smooth stockinette stitch fabric.
• Purl stitch (p): Used in combination with knit stitches to create the k1, p1 ribbing at the cuff.
• Central double decrease (CDD): A decrease stitch worked multiple times during crown shaping to reduce stitches symmetrically and create a neat, centered crown point.
• Stockinette stitch (St st): The main fabric stitch worked in the round, creating a smooth, V-textured surface that showcases the colorwork chart.

Materials: Yarn and Needles

Yarn: The Charente Hat is designed to be knitted using Berroco Brielle, a yarn produced by Berroco, Inc. The pattern calls for 1 hank each of two colors: #6506 Gris (main color) and #6550 Rouille (contrasting color). Each hank weighs 50 grams, providing sufficient yardage for the completed hat.

Needles and Notions: The pattern requires a 16-inch circular needle in size 8 (5.00 mm) for casting on and working the cuff and body of the hat. One set of four double-pointed needles in the same size (8 / 5.00 mm) is needed for the crown decreases when the hat becomes too small for the circular needle. A stitch marker is essential for marking the beginning of each round during circular knitting. A tapestry needle is used for weaving in yarn ends and attaching the pompom. An optional 3½-inch pompom maker can be used to create a coordinating pompom for the crown.

Gauge and Finishing

The pattern specifies a gauge of 22 stitches and 28 rounds equal 4 inches when worked in stockinette stitch over the chart. Checking gauge before beginning is strongly recommended to ensure the finished hat meets the intended measurements. The pattern notes that a pompom is optional, allowing knitters to customize the finished look of their hat.