Ribbed Hat Knitting Pattern

Ribbed Hat in Plymouth Yarn Galway Roving

What Is Being Made

This is an adult-sized ribbed hat designed to fit a 19 ¼" circumference. The hat features a classic construction with a ribbed brim, striped body, and tapered crown shaping that creates a fitted, comfortable fit for everyday wear.

Techniques Used

This intermediate-level knitting project employs several fundamental techniques. The hat is worked in the round using circular needles for the brim and body, then transitions to double-pointed needles (DPNs) during crown shaping when stitches become too few for the circular needle. The pattern incorporates stranded colorwork by carrying the non-working yarn loosely up the inside of the hat rather than cutting it between color changes, which is an efficient technique for two-color striping. Crown shaping is accomplished through strategic decreases that gradually reduce stitches in a controlled manner, creating a smooth, professional finish at the top of the hat.

Stitches Used

The primary stitch throughout this hat is the 1x1 ribbed stitch, which alternates knit and purl stitches in every round. This creates vertical columns of texture that provide elasticity and a refined appearance. Decreases are worked using the k2tog (knit two stitches together) technique during the crown shaping phase, which creates right-leaning decreases that blend seamlessly with the ribbed pattern.

Materials and Specifications

This pattern is designed for Plymouth Yarn Galway Roving, a bulky-weight yarn. The project requires one 100g ball each of color 28 Delft and color 185 Indigo, though the pattern notes that almost all of the Indigo is used, so purchasing two balls of Indigo is recommended for safety. The gauge is 10 stitches and 12 rows over 4 inches in 1x1 rib on size US 15 (10mm) needles when slightly stretched. Needles required include a US Size 15 (10mm) 24-inch circular needle and US Size 11, 13, or 15 double-pointed needles, along with one stitch marker for marking the beginning of rounds.

Pattern Structure

The hat begins with a cast-on of 48 stitches on the circular needle using Indigo yarn. The brim is worked in 1x1 rib for 15 rounds, establishing the foundational texture. The body introduces a two-color stripe pattern: 2 rounds in Delft followed by 1 round in Indigo, which repeats throughout. After 10 total rounds of the body are complete, crown shaping begins with a series of eight decrease rounds that progressively reduce stitches from 48 down to a final closure. The final stitches are drawn together and fastened off, then all ends are woven in for a finished appearance.