Heydon + Tide in Mode at Rowan Alpaca Cotton & Softest Alpaca

Heydon + Tide Seamless Knit Designs by Quail Studio

Project Overview

This downloadable PDF pattern collection from Mode at Rowan features two beginner-friendly knit designs: the Heydon Hat and the Tide Bib. Both projects showcase the luxurious qualities of Rowan's premium alpaca yarns, offering versatile options for knitters seeking elegant, wearable accessories with minimal shaping complexity.

Heydon Hat

What is Being Made: The Heydon Hat is a seamless knit hat designed to fit an average-sized adult woman's head with a finished circumference of approximately 38 cm (15 inches). The pattern offers two construction methods: one worked flat on straight needles and an alternative version worked in the round using double-pointed needles.

Techniques Used: This beginner-level design employs fundamental knitting techniques including ribbed stitch patterning, decreasing through knit-two-together (K2tog) reductions, and seamless crown shaping. The flat version requires a simple mattress stitch or back stitch seam join at completion. The in-the-round version eliminates seaming entirely, making it ideal for knitters preferring seamless construction from cast-on to fastening off.

Stitches Used: The primary stitch pattern is a one-by-one rib (alternating knit and purl stitches), which creates vertical columns of texture and provides natural stretch and recovery. Crown shaping utilizes strategic knit-two-together decreases positioned within the rib pattern to gradually reduce stitch count from 90 stitches to 15 stitches, then further to 8 stitches for a neat, gathered crown closure.

Materials and Specifications: The Heydon Hat is worked using 4mm (US 6) needles in either straight needle or double-pointed needle format. The pattern calls for Rowan Alpaca Cotton yarn in 25-gram quantities, photographed in Charcoal Melange 012. Tension is established at 24 stitches and 27 rows per 10 centimeters measured over rib pattern. An optional Rowan faux fur pom pom provides a decorative finishing touch.

Tide Bib

What is Being Made: The Tide Bib is a complementary accessory design from the same pattern collection, worked in the round using double-pointed needles. This piece begins with 90 cast-on stitches distributed evenly across three of four needles.

Techniques Used: The Tide Bib employs in-the-round knitting methodology, a technique that creates seamless fabric by working continuously in spiral rounds rather than flat rows. This construction method eliminates the need for seaming and allows for intuitive stitch pattern continuity throughout the piece.

Stitches Used: Like the Heydon Hat, the Tide Bib utilizes knit-two-together decreases for shaping, with the pattern indicating decreases worked as *K2tog, rep from * to last stitch, K1 across rounds to gradually reduce stitch count and shape the finished garment.

Materials and Specifications: The Tide Bib is constructed using 4mm (US 6) double-pointed needles with Rowan Softest Alpaca yarn in 50-gram quantities, photographed in Pebble 013. This yarn choice offers enhanced softness compared to the Alpaca Cotton used in the Heydon Hat, making it exceptionally comfortable for pieces worn close to the neck and face.

General Pattern Information

Difficulty Level: Both designs are classified as beginner-friendly projects, making them suitable for knitters new to hat and bib construction. The straightforward stitch patterns, minimal shaping, and clear decreasing sequences allow newer knitters to build confidence while creating polished, professional-looking finished pieces.

Yarn Characteristics: Both Rowan Alpaca Cotton and Rowan Softest Alpaca are premium natural fiber options that provide excellent drape, warmth, and breathability. Alpaca fiber is renowned for its softness, lightweight properties, and temperature-regulating qualities, making these accessories suitable for extended wear across seasons.