Kate Atherley Mod Squad Mosaic Hat Knitting Pattern

Kate Atherley Mod Squad Mosaic Hat

What is Being Made

The Mod Squad Mosaic Hat is a seamless, colorwork knit hat designed by Kate Atherley. This project creates a finished adult hat available in two sizes: Small with a 20-inch circumference and 8 inches deep, or Large with a 22-inch circumference and 9 inches deep. The depth can be adjusted to personal preference. For the best fit, the designer recommends choosing a size approximately one to two inches smaller than your actual head circumference.

Techniques Used

This hat is worked seamless and in the round using the bottom-up construction method, meaning you begin at the brim and work upward toward the crown. The primary technique featured in this design is mosaic knitting, which is described as a simplified approach to colorwork patterning that avoids the complexity of traditional stranded Fair Isle knitting.

Mosaic knitting works by alternating between two colors across four-round pattern repeats. Two rounds are worked with the contrast color only, with main color stitches slipped, followed by two rounds worked with the main color only, with contrast color stitches slipped. This method allows knitters to work only one color per round, eliminating the need to manage multiple working yarns simultaneously. All slipped stitches are executed purlwise, meaning the needle enters each stitch as if to purl before slipping it to the right needle without working it. The slipped stitches stretch vertically during the two rounds they are not being worked, then are evened out when worked on the following two rounds. The designer notes that the fabric will appear lumpy during construction but resolves into a smooth, attractive fabric after blocking.

Stitches Used

The pattern features an 8-stitch repeat that is worked 13 times around for the Small size or 14 times around for the Large size in each given round. The hat incorporates stripes created through the mosaic colorwork technique, where alternating rounds of two colors build the patterned fabric. Decreases are worked as indicated on the pattern chart to shape the crown of the hat. Chart rows are read from right to left, and knitters must work the decreases and slipped stitches in the colors specified on the chart.

Materials and Tools

This project requires 2 skeins of Cascade 220, a 100% wool yarn with 220 yards per 100-gram skein. The sample hat uses color 8895 as the main color and color 8509 as the contrast color. Knitters will need 5mm (US 8) circular needles, including one 16-inch circular needle for the main body of the hat and one set of 5mm (US 8) double-pointed needles or a long circular needle for the magic loop method to close the crown. A stitch marker is also required to track the beginning of each round. The pattern specifies that gauge should be checked at 22 stitches and 28 rounds over 4 inches by 4 inches (10 centimeters by 10 centimeters) in pattern stitch, after blocking.

Ideal for Colorwork Beginners

The Mod Squad Mosaic Hat is presented as an excellent project for knitters who love the visual appeal of colorwork patterning but lack confidence in traditional Fair Isle techniques or prefer to try an alternative approach. Since mosaic knitting requires no special skills beyond basic knitting and involves working only one color at a time, it removes many of the technical barriers associated with stranded colorwork, making this hat an accessible introduction to patterned knitting.