Classic Elite Yarns Willey Hat Knitting Pattern

Classic Elite Yarns Willey Knit Hat

What Is Being Made

The Willey is a reversible double-thick knit hat designed by Susan Mills, originally published in the Wildwood and MountainTop 1609 printed collection. This intermediate-level project creates an adult medium hat with approximately 19 inches circumference (unstretched) and 10 inches in height. The hat's unique construction allows it to be worn with either side facing outward, making it a versatile accessory piece.

Construction and Techniques

This hat is worked in the round from the top down, beginning at the crown and progressing to the brim, then reversing direction to work from the brim back to the crown. This two-directional construction creates the double-thick, reversible quality that defines the design. The hat features stranded colorwork, a technique where multiple yarn colors are carried across the work to create patterned sections. When working the colorwork chart, knitters may need to adjust needle size to maintain proper gauge.

The construction method involves careful stitch management: the first half of the hat is shaped from the crown downward with strategic increases, and the second half mirrors this process in reverse. This approach ensures both sides of the finished hat are equally finished and wearable.

Stitches Used

The Willey employs fundamental knitting stitches suited to in-the-round construction:

• Stockinette Stitch (St st) – the primary stitch throughout the hat, creating a smooth, classic fabric
• 2 x 2 Rib – a multiple of 4 stitches worked as knit 2, purl 2 in repeating rounds, likely used for the striped lining section
• Kfb (knit front and back) – an increase technique used repeatedly during crown shaping to expand stitch count from 8 stitches to 96 stitches across multiple increase rounds

Materials and Yarn

The Willey is designed to be knit with MountainTop Mohawk Wool by Classic Elite Yarns, a blend of 60% merino, 30% romney wool, and 10% nylon. Each hank contains approximately 375 yards and weighs 100 grams. The pattern requires one hank each of two colorways:

• Color A – 3306 Oatmeal
• Color B – 3313 Black Sheep

The yarn blend combines the softness and elasticity of merino wool with the durability and warmth of romney wool, while the nylon content adds resilience and helps the hat maintain its shape through wear and washing.

Needles and Tools

Construction requires:

• A set of 4 double-pointed needles (dpn) for working the crown and initial rounds in the round
• A 16-inch circular needle for working the larger circumference sections

Gauge

The pattern specifies a gauge of 22 stitches and 29 rounds equals 4 inches in stockinette stitch, blocked. Achieving accurate gauge is essential for this project, as the hat's finished measurements depend on maintaining this tension. The pattern notes emphasize taking time to check gauge before beginning, as adjusting needle size during colorwork sections may be necessary to preserve the correct gauge.

Skill Level

This pattern is rated as Intermediate, requiring familiarity with working in the round, managing multiple colors in stranded colorwork, and executing increases and shaping techniques.