Ribbed Hat, Leggings, & Fingerless Gloves in Plymouth Encore Worsted

Ribbed Hat, Leggings, and Fingerless Gloves in Plymouth Encore Worsted

Project Overview

This knitting pattern from Plymouth Yarn Design Studio offers three coordinated accessories—a ribbed hat, leggings, and fingerless gloves—all worked in the same vibrant stripe pattern using Plymouth Encore Worsted yarn. The design is ideal for creating a matching set with bold color blocking, featuring five distinct colors that rotate throughout the pieces. The pattern is available as a free downloadable PDF with yarn purchase from Plymouth Yarn.

What Is Being Made

The pattern includes three separate garments designed to work together as a coordinated accessory set:

• Ribbed Hat: A fitted adult-sized hat with a 7-8 inch ribbed cuff that transitions into a tapered crown
• Leggings: Leg warmers or short leggings measuring 12 inches in length (adjustable), worked in continuous rounds
• Fingerless Gloves: Wrist-length gloves featuring ribbed cuffs and an open palm area for finger access

Materials and Yarn

The pattern calls for Plymouth Encore Worsted yarn in five distinct colorways: Turquoise #235, Lime #3335, Black #217, Hot Pink #137, and White #208. Each color requires one 100-gram ball, allowing crafters to work the complete stripe pattern throughout all three pieces. Plymouth Encore Worsted is a durable, versatile yarn suitable for everyday wear accessories.

Needles and Tools

The pattern requires US 8 double-pointed needles and a 16-inch circular needle. Double-pointed needles are used for the smaller circumference pieces (leggings and fingerless gloves), while the circular needle accommodates the larger cast-on for the hat. All needles should be sized appropriately to achieve the correct gauge.

Gauge and Sizing

The pattern is worked at a gauge of approximately 5 stitches per 1 inch over stockinette stitch. The hat is designed in one size for adult fit. The leggings are cast on with 72 stitches for the standard size, with an option to increase to 80 stitches for a larger fit. All pieces are worked in the round to create seamless, tubular garments.

Stitches and Techniques

The primary stitch used throughout all three pieces is k2-p2 ribbing, which creates vertical columns of knit and purl stitches that provide stretch and recovery. This ribbing technique is worked continuously in rounds, creating a textured, elastic fabric ideal for fitted accessories. The hat incorporates decreasing techniques to shape the crown, including knit 2 together (k2tog) and purl 2 together (p2tog) decreases worked strategically across multiple rounds to gradually reduce stitches from 88 to 11 stitches for closure. The fingerless gloves use a bind-off and cast-on technique to create the open palm area while maintaining the ribbed cuff structure.

Stripe Pattern

All three pieces are worked in an identical repeating stripe pattern that cycles through the five colors in a specific sequence: 3 rounds of Turquoise, 4 rounds of Lime, 1 round of Black, 2 rounds of Hot Pink, and 2 rounds of White. This 12-round repeat is worked continuously throughout each piece. The pattern instructs crafters to carry unused colors loosely up the inside of the work, a technique that prevents long floats and maintains fabric integrity while working with multiple colors in the round.

Hat Construction

The hat begins with a loose cast-on of 88 stitches using the circular needle. After placing a stitch marker and joining in the round, the crafter works k2-p2 ribbing for 7 to 8 inches, creating a deep ribbed cuff. The crown shaping then begins with a series of strategic decreases: the first decrease round reduces stitches to 66 by working knit 2, purl 2 together combinations. Subsequent rounds continue with alternating knit and purl decreases until only 11 stitches remain. The yarn is cut with a 12-inch tail, threaded through the remaining stitches, drawn up tightly, and secured to close the crown.

Leggings Construction

Each legging is created by casting on 72 stitches and dividing them evenly across three double-pointed needles, then joining in the round. The entire piece is worked in continuous k2-p2 ribbing for 12 inches or to the desired length,