Rowan Lattice Hat Knitting Pattern

Rowan Lattice Hat by Martin Storey

What is Being Made

The Rowan Lattice Hat is an intermediate-level knitted hat featuring a sophisticated two-color design. The finished hat measures 50.5 cm (20 inches) in circumference and 26 cm (10¼ inches) in height, making it a classic, close-fitting style suitable for everyday wear.

Craft and Techniques

This is a knitting project that employs multiple advanced techniques to create its distinctive appearance. The hat is constructed using the fairisle technique, which involves stranding yarn not in use across the wrong side of the work to create intricate colorwork patterns. The design is worked in the round using double-pointed needles or a circular needle, which allows for seamless construction and maintains the integrity of the pattern throughout.

The hat begins with a two-color rib at the base, which provides elasticity and a finished edge. The main body transitions into fairisle patterning that repeats across 7 pattern repeats per round. The crown is shaped through strategic decreases that gradually reduce the stitch count, culminating in a gathered top where remaining stitches are pulled tight and fastened off.

Stitches Used

• Knit stitch (K) – forms the foundation of stockinette stitch in the fairisle sections
• Purl stitch (P) – used in the two-color rib ribbing for texture and stretch
• Knit two together (K2tog) – decreases used throughout the crown shaping to taper the hat
• Stockinette stitch – the base stitch for the fairisle patterned sections
• Two-color rib – alternating knit and purl stitches in two colors to create the decorative ribbed cuff

Materials

The hat is knitted using Rowan Alpaca Soft DK yarn, a soft and luxurious fiber blend. Two colorways are required: A Rainy Day (210) and B Tea (205), with 1 x 50gm ball of each color needed to complete the project.

The needles required include a set of 4 double-pointed 3¼mm (US 3) needles for the ribbed cuff and initial rounds, and a set of 4 double-pointed 4mm (US 6) needles for the fairisle patterned body. Alternatively, a 3¼mm (US 3) circular needle no longer than 40 cm (16 inches) can be used in place of double-pointed needles for the initial sections. The pattern includes an 18-stitch repeat chart that is worked over 45 rounds to create the lattice design.

Tension and Finishing

Achieving the correct tension is essential for this project. The two-color rib should measure 28 stitches and 25 rows to 10 cm on 3¼mm (US 3) needles, while the fairisle pattern should measure 25 stitches and 26 rows to 10 cm on 4mm (US 6) needles. The completed hat is pressed and finished according to standard instructions provided in the pattern information pages.