Rowan Eastwood Hat Knitting Pattern

Rowan Eastwood Hat by Martin Storey

What is Being Made

The Eastwood Hat is a seamless, worked-in-the-round knitted hat designed by Martin Storey for Rowan. This pattern offers three size options with finished circumferences of 47 cm (18½ in), 52 cm (20½ in), and 57 cm (22½ in), making it suitable for a range of head sizes. The hat features a classic construction with a ribbed cuff and a textured crown that tapers to a fitted finish.

Techniques Used

The Eastwood Hat is constructed using bottom-up and seamless knitting techniques, worked entirely in the round. This approach eliminates the need for seaming and creates a smooth, continuous fabric. The pattern begins with a ribbed cuff worked on smaller needles, then transitions to larger needles for the main body and crown shaping. The crown features strategic decreases worked across multiple rounds to create a gradual taper that draws the stitches together at the top of the hat.

Stitches Used

The Eastwood Hat employs fundamental knitting stitches combined in a structured pattern sequence. The cuff is worked in 2x2 ribbing (knit 2, purl 2), which provides elasticity and helps the hat sit securely on the head. The main body utilizes a six-round repeating pattern that includes knit rounds, purl rounds, and a yarn-over round that doubles the stitch count, creating texture and visual interest. Crown shaping is accomplished using knit 2 together (K2tog) and slip 1, knit 1, pass slipped stitch over (sl 1, K1, psso) decreases, which are worked at regular intervals across multiple rounds to systematically reduce the stitch count from 70 [78: 86] stitches down to 8 [9: 10] stitches at the crown.

Materials

The Eastwood Hat is knitted using Rowan Felted Tweed Aran yarn, with 2 x 50g balls required for all three sizes. The pattern was photographed in the colorway Seasalter 778. Needles required include a set of four 4mm (US 6) double-pointed needles for the ribbed cuff and a set of four 5mm (US 8) double-pointed needles for the main body and crown. Alternatively, circular needles in the same sizes (at least 80 cm long) may be used with the magic loop technique. The recommended tension is 15 stitches and 29 rows to 10 cm measured over pattern using the 5mm needles.