Malabrigo Bushwick Hat Knitting Pattern

Malabrigo Bushwick Knit Hat Pattern

What is Being Made

The Malabrigo Bushwick is a ribbed knit hat with pompom designed by Vanessa Putt. This pattern features three colorway options, each combining a main color with a contrasting color stripe pattern. The hat is worked in the round and finished with a 5-inch pompom attached to the crown, making it a classic, easy-to-knit accessory suitable for beginners.

Techniques Used

This hat is constructed using knitting in the round, a fundamental circular knitting technique that creates seamless fabric. The pattern employs striping as its primary design element, alternating between main color and contrasting color yarn at strategic intervals to create visual interest. The crown shaping uses decreasing techniques, specifically knit three together through the back loop (k3tog tbl), to gradually reduce stitches and form the hat's tapered top. The pattern is rated as Easy skill level, making it accessible to knitters with basic experience.

Stitches Used

The Bushwick hat is constructed primarily using knit one, purl one ribbing (k1, p1 rib), which creates vertical columns of texture and provides stretch and recovery to the finished garment. This ribbed stitch is maintained throughout most of the hat, including during the stripe color changes. The only variation in stitch work occurs during crown shaping, where knit three together through the back loop (k3tog tbl) decreases are worked in combination with the ribbed pattern to taper the crown. The ribbed construction ensures the hat maintains its shape and fits securely on the head.

Materials and Specifications

The Bushwick pattern calls for Rasta yarn by Malabrigo, a bulky-weight yarn available in 5.25-ounce hanks with approximately 90 yards per hank. Each of the three hat colorways requires one hank each of a main color and contrasting color:

• Hat 1: Plomo (MC) and Glazed Carrot (CC)
• Hat 2: Teal Feather (MC) and Lettuce (CC)
• Hat 3: Azul Profundo (MC) and Sunset (CC)

The pattern specifies size 13 (9mm) double-pointed needles (dpn) in a set of four, or the size needed to obtain proper gauge. The gauge is 10½ stitches and 11½ rounds over 4 inches in k1, p1 rib using size 13 needles. A large pompom maker is required for finishing. The completed hat measures 15 inches in circumference (unstretched) and 9½ inches in length.

Construction Overview

The hat begins with casting on 40 stitches and working 9 rounds of k1, p1 ribbing in the main color. The stripe pattern is then introduced while maintaining the ribbed stitch throughout: one round of contrasting color, three rounds of main color, two rounds of contrasting color, two rounds of main color, three rounds of contrasting color, one round of main color, and two final rounds of contrasting color. Once the striped section is complete, the crown is shaped using three decrease rows worked in contrasting color only. After securing the remaining stitches, a 5-inch pompom made from both main and contrasting colors is attached to the top of the hat.