Noro Man's Ribbed Hat Knitting Pattern

Noro Man's Ribbed Hat

What is Being Made

The Noro Man's Ribbed Hat is a classic knitted beanie designed for men, featuring a comfortable ribbed texture throughout. This hat offers two finished size options with a head circumference of either 17½ inches (44.5 cm) or 20 inches (51 cm) when slightly stretched, and a finished length of 11½ inches (28.5 cm). The design combines functionality with visual interest through a coordinated striped color pattern.

Techniques Used

This hat is constructed using several key knitting techniques that make it an easy-level project. The hat is worked seamlessly in the round using circular needles, eliminating the need for seaming and creating a smooth, professional finish. The bottom-up construction method begins at the brim and works upward toward the crown. The design incorporates stripes created by alternating between two coordinating Noro Kureyon yarn colors in a repeating sequence. Crown shaping is achieved through strategic decreases that transition from knit and purl decreases to knit-only decreases, gradually reducing the stitch count until the remaining stitches are drawn closed.

Stitches Used

The Noro Man's Ribbed Hat employs fundamental knitting stitches executed in a structured pattern. The primary stitch pattern is a knit 2, purl 2 (k2, p2) ribbed sequence, which creates vertical columns of texture and provides excellent stretch and recovery for a comfortable fit. This rib pattern is maintained throughout the body of the hat. For crown shaping, the pattern uses knit two stitches together (k2tog) and purl two stitches together (p2tog) decreases to gradually reduce the stitch count and create the tapered crown shaping. The final decreases transition to k2tog only, allowing the remaining stitches to be drawn up and secured with a yarn tail threaded through twice for security.

Materials and Gauge

This project requires minimal yardage, calling for 1 skein each of Noro Kureyon in color #276 (A) and color #149 (B). The needles required include a size 8 (5mm) circular needle measuring 16 inches (40 cm) long for the main body of the hat, plus one set of five size 8 (5mm) double-pointed needles for the crown shaping when stitches become too few for the circular needle. A stitch marker is also needed to track the beginning of each round. The pattern specifies a gauge of 19 stitches and 24 rounds over 4 inches (10 cm) in k2, p2 rib when slightly stretched using the size 8 (5mm) needle. Achieving the correct gauge is essential for proper fit.

Construction Overview

The hat begins with casting on either 84 or 96 stitches depending on desired size, then joining to work in the round while being careful not to twist the stitches. The ribbed stripe sequence is then repeated eight times, followed by working the first three rounds of the sequence once more. This creates the striped pattern throughout the hat body. The stripe sequence alternates five rounds of color A with three rounds of color B in the k2, p2 rib pattern. Once the length is achieved, crown decreases are worked to shape the top, first reducing both knit and purl stitches, then reducing knit stitches only, until the remaining stitches are closed off securely.