Coulter Reversible Hats Knitting Pattern

Coulter Reversible Hat in Juniper Moon Findley

What is Being Made

The Coulter is a slouchy, reversible knit hat designed for adults in two sizes: Medium and Large. This innovative design features a two-color construction that allows the finished hat to be worn with either side facing outward, providing two distinct color combinations from a single project. The hat is worked seamlessly in the round, beginning at the brim and progressing to a shaped crown.

Construction and Techniques

The Coulter hat employs a sophisticated two-color cast-on technique that establishes the foundation for its reversible nature. Knitters hold two strands of yarn together—one main color and one contrasting color—and work a specialized cast-on method using thumb and index finger manipulation. This creates a dual-colored edge that serves as the starting point for the entire project.

Once the cast-on is complete, the hat body is knit entirely in the round using circular needles, beginning with 120 stitches for the Medium size or 140 stitches for the Large size. The main color is worked first, establishing the primary hat structure. After the hat body reaches its full length, the contrasting-color stitches from the original cast-on are picked up from the edge, and a lining is knit in the contrasting color. This ingenious construction method creates a completely reversible garment where both sides are finished and wearable.

Stitch Patterns Used

The primary stitch pattern employed throughout the hat body is the Basketweave pattern, which is worked over 20 rounds and repeated multiple times to build the hat's height. The Basketweave creates a textured, visually interesting fabric with alternating knit and purl sections that form a woven appearance.

The crown shaping incorporates decreases using p2tog (purl two together) and ssk (slip, slip, knit) techniques to gradually reduce the stitch count and form the hat's crown point. The decreases are strategically placed to maintain the pattern's visual balance while tapering the hat. The final rounds transition the stitch pattern orientation before the remaining stitches are closed.

Finished Measurements and Sizing

The Medium size hat measures 18½ inches (47 cm) in circumference and 10 inches (25 cm) in length from brim to crown. The Large size measures 21½ inches (54.5 cm) in circumference with the same 10-inch length. These measurements create a slouchy silhouette that sits relaxed on the head.

Materials and Gauge

This project uses Juniper Moon Farm Findley yarn in two colorways. The main color options include Oyster (#13) for the Medium or Garnet (#16) for the Large, paired with a contrasting color of either Malachite (#21) or Menemsha (#22). One ball of each color is required to complete the hat.

The pattern calls for US size 2 (2.75mm) needles—specifically a 16-inch circular needle and a set of double-pointed needles (dpn). The circular needle is used for the initial rounds, and knitters switch to dpn when the decreasing stitches no longer fit comfortably around the circular needle.

The gauge for this project is 26 stitches and 40 rows equal 4 inches (10 cm) in Basketweave stitch. Achieving proper gauge is essential for obtaining the correct finished measurements, and knitters are advised to adjust needle size as necessary to match this gauge.

Additional Notions

Beyond yarn and needles, the pattern requires stitch markers to track pattern repeats and round beginnings, and a tapestry needle for weaving in yarn ends upon completion.