Rowan Zephyr Hat Knitting Pattern

Rowan Zephyr Knitted Hat by Lisa Richardson

What is Being Made

The Rowan Zephyr is an intermediate-level knitted hat designed by Lisa Richardson. This pattern offers two distinct versions: a two-colour striped design and a plain version. The completed hat has a finished circumference of 49.5 cm (19½ inches), making it a standard adult size. The plain version can be finished with a decorative Rowan Faux Fur pom pom attached to the crown, while the two-colour version features a yarn-made pom pom in a contrasting shade.

Knitting Techniques Used

This hat is constructed using circular knitting techniques worked in the round on double-pointed needles. The pattern employs a classic crown shaping method, beginning with a cast-on of 72 stitches distributed evenly across three needles, with the fourth needle used for working. The construction starts with a ribbed cuff section worked in a knit-two, purl-two pattern to create elasticity and structure at the brim. The shaping progresses through the body of the hat with strategic decreases worked in each round to gradually taper the crown. The pattern demonstrates intermediate-level skills through its use of multiple decrease rounds and the coordination required for working with four double-pointed needles.

Stitches and Stitch Patterns

The Zephyr utilizes fundamental knitting stitches appropriate for hat construction:

• Knit stitch (K) – Forms the primary fabric of the hat body in stockinette stitch
• Purl stitch (P) – Used in the ribbed cuff section in alternation with knit stitches
• Knit two together (K2tog) – The primary decrease stitch used repeatedly throughout the crown shaping to reduce stitches in a controlled manner. Multiple rounds of K2tog decreases progressively reduce the stitch count from 72 stitches down to 6 stitches at the crown

The ribbed cuff employs a knit-two, purl-two repeat pattern, which provides both visual texture and functional elasticity. The body transitions to stockinette stitch (knit every round) before the crown shaping begins with regular decrease rounds spaced by plain knit rounds to maintain hat structure.

Materials: Yarn and Needles

For the Plain Version: One 50-gram ball of Rowan Tweed Haze (photographed in shade Rainy 552). The plain version is designed to be finished with one Rowan Faux Fur pom pom.

For the Two-Colour Version: Two 50-gram balls of Rowan Tweed Haze – Yarn A in Storm 556 and Yarn B in Setting Sun 555. This version features a hand-made pom pom created from Yarn B and attached to the hat crown.

Needles: A set of four 6mm (US size 10) double-pointed needles is required for working this hat in the round. The 6mm needle size is essential for achieving the specified tension.

Tension: The pattern is designed to be worked at a tension of 14.5 stitches and 20 rows to 10 centimetres measured over stockinette stitch using 6mm needles. Achieving correct tension is critical for the hat to reach its intended finished circumference of 49.5 cm.