Holkham Hat + Scarf Knitting Pattern

Holkham Hat + Scarf in Mode at Rowan Merino Soft

What Is Being Made

The Holkham Hat + Scarf is a coordinating knit set designed by Quail Studio, featuring a classic women's hat and matching scarf. This beginner-friendly knitting project uses Mode at Rowan's Merino Soft yarn, a luxurious natural fiber choice perfect for creating soft, wearable accessories. The set is available as a downloadable PDF pattern, making it accessible for knitters of all experience levels looking to create a polished, coordinated accessory pair.

Hat Construction and Design

The Holkham Hat is designed to fit an average-sized adult woman's head with an approximate circumference of 44.5cm (17½ inches). The pattern offers flexibility with two construction methods: a flat version worked back and forth on straight needles, or a seamless version worked in the round using circular needles and double-pointed needles (dpns) for the crown shaping.

The hat begins with a ribbed cuff that measures 10cm in length, providing a classic, fitted edge. After the ribbed section, the main body is worked in garter stitch for 48 rows (or rounds in the in-the-round version), creating a textured, reversible fabric. The crown is then shaped through a series of strategic decreases that gradually reduce the stitch count from 71 stitches down to a small number at the top, creating the classic hat crown shaping.

Knitting Techniques and Stitches

This beginner-level pattern employs fundamental knitting techniques suitable for those new to the craft:

• Ribbed Knit: The cuff uses a simple alternating knit and purl pattern (K1, P1 rib), which creates elasticity and helps the hat stay securely on the head
• Garter Stitch: The main body is worked entirely in garter stitch, created by knitting every row (or every round). This stitch produces a thick, textured, reversible fabric that is forgiving for beginners and adds visual interest
• Knit Two Together (K2tog): Used throughout the crown shaping to decrease stitches and create the tapered top of the hat
• Purl Rows: Alternated with knit rows during crown shaping in the flat version to maintain garter stitch texture

The pattern demonstrates how decreases can be strategically placed to shape a three-dimensional garment, making it an excellent learning project for understanding garment construction fundamentals.

Materials: Yarn and Needles

The Holkham Hat requires Mode at Rowan Merino Soft yarn, specifically 2 balls of 50-gram weight. The pattern was photographed in the shade Blush 012, though the yarn is available in multiple colorways. Merino Soft is a natural fiber yarn that provides softness, breathability, and excellent drape—ideal qualities for a hat that will be worn close to the face.

The pattern calls for 5.5mm (US size 9) needles in multiple configurations depending on the chosen construction method:

• One pair of 5.5mm straight needles for the flat version
• 5.5mm circular needles (40cm length) for working the hat in the round from cast-on through most of the crown
• 5.5mm double-pointed needles (dpns) for completing the crown shaping when working in the round, as the stitch count becomes too small for circular needles

A stitch marker is required only for the in-the-round version to denote the beginning of each round. The pattern specifies a tension of 16 stitches and 34 rows or rounds to 10 centimeters when measured over garter stitch using 5.5mm needles, which helps ensure the finished hat will fit correctly.

Pattern Features and Beginner-Friendly Aspects

The Holkham Hat + Scarf pattern is classified as beginner-level, making it an excellent introduction to knitting projects that involve shaping and construction. The use of garter stitch throughout most of the pattern eliminates the need to maintain complex stitch patterns, while the straightforward decreases teach fundamental shaping techniques. The availability of both flat and in-the-round options allows knitters to choose the method most comfortable for their skill level, whether they prefer working with straight needles or circular needles.