Noro Hokitika Knitting Pattern

Noro Hokitika Knit Hat

What is Being Made

The Noro Hokitika is a one-size-fits-most adult knit hat designed by Rosemary Drysdale. This downloadable knitting pattern creates a finished hat with a circumference of approximately 18 inches (46 centimeters) when unstretched, and a depth of approximately 10 inches (25.5 centimeters) when the cuff is folded. The hat is designed to stretch to fit various head sizes, making it a versatile accessory piece.

Techniques Used

This knitting pattern employs several intermediate-level techniques to create visual interest and texture. The primary construction method uses circular knitting, worked in the round using circular needles and double-pointed needles. The pattern incorporates cable work, which requires the use of a cable needle to create twisted rope-like textures. Additionally, the pattern uses the slip stitch technique, where stitches are passed from the left-hand needle to the right-hand needle without being worked, which aids in creating clean selvage edges that make seaming easier. The design also features decreasing techniques, specifically the slip, slip, knit (SSK) method, which involves slipping two stitches knitwise individually and then knitting them together to decrease by one stitch.

Stitches Used

The Hokitika pattern combines two primary stitch patterns to create its finished fabric:

• Cable Pattern: Worked over 8 stitches and repeated across 6 rounds. Rounds 1 through 5 are worked as purl 1, knit 6, purl 1. Round 6 introduces the cable cross: slip 3 stitches to a cable needle and hold to back, knit 3, then knit 3 from the cable needle, creating a 6-stitch right cable (RC), with purl 1 on each side. This pattern repeats to create the characteristic twisted rope texture.
• Trinity Stitch: Worked over 9 stitches across 4 rounds. Round 1 is knit 1, purl 7, knit 1. Round 2 features the signature trinity stitch decrease and increase: knit 1, knit 3 together, work purl 1, knit 1, purl 1 into the next stitch, knit 3 together, knit 1. Round 3 is knit 1, purl 5, knit 1. Round 4 continues the pattern. This stitch creates a textured, bumpy fabric with visual depth.

Materials and Tools

The pattern calls for specific materials to achieve the intended finished fabric and appearance. Yarn requirements include 1 hank of 150 grams of Noro Haunui Silk in colorway #108, which provides the base fabric with silk content for sheen and drape. The hat is finished with 1 KFI Collection Furreal Pom in #17 for the crown pompom detail. The recommended needles are one size US 8 (5 millimeter) circular needle measuring 16 inches (40 centimeters) long, along with one set of four size US 8 (5 millimeter) double-pointed needles for working the crown decreases. Additional tools include a cable needle for executing the cable crosses and stitch markers to track pattern repeats. The pattern specifies a gauge of 19 stitches and 23 rows over 4 inches (10 centimeters) when worked in cable pattern and trinity stitch using the size US 8 needle, and knitters are instructed to take time to check gauge before beginning the project.