Rowan Solveig Hat Knitting Pattern

Rowan Solveig Knit Hat

What is Being Made

Solveig is a knitted hat designed by ARNE & CARLOS for Rowan. This is a classic round hat featuring colorwork patterning and a shaped crown, suitable for intermediate knitters seeking a project that combines stranded colorwork with fitted shaping techniques.

Craft and Construction Method

This hat is constructed using the knitting craft, worked in the round on double-pointed needles. The construction begins at the bottom edge and works upward toward the crown, following a bottom-up approach. This method allows the knitter to try on the hat as it progresses and provides flexibility in final length adjustments.

Techniques Used

The Solveig hat employs several key knitting techniques:

• Stranded colorwork (Fair Isle): The pattern incorporates the Fair Isle technique, a traditional method of working with two colors in a single round to create intricate patterned designs. The colorwork section spans 27 rounds and repeats a 25-stitch pattern four times around each round.
• Ribbed cuff: The hat begins with a knit-purl ribbed edging (K2, P2 repeat) that measures approximately 11 centimeters, providing elasticity and a finished appearance at the brim.
• Crown shaping: Decreases are strategically placed to shape the crown, using slip-stitch decreases (sl 1, K1, psso) and knit-two-together (K2tog) decreases worked in structured rounds to create a fitted top.
• Stockinette stitch: The main body and patterned sections are worked in stockinette stitch (knitting every round), which creates a smooth, classic fabric.

Stitches Used

The pattern utilizes fundamental knitting stitches including:

• Knit stitch (K)
• Purl stitch (P)
• Slip stitch (sl 1)
• Slip-stitch decrease (sl 1, K1, psso)
• Knit-two-together decrease (K2tog)

These stitches are combined to create both the textured ribbing and the smooth stockinette base for the colorwork pattern.

Materials: Yarn and Needles

Yarn: The Solveig hat uses two Rowan yarns worked in combination:

• Rowan Felted Tweed in Watery (152): 1 x 50 gram ball serves as yarn A, the primary color for the hat base and ribbing.
• Rowan Kidsilk Haze in Aura (676): 1 x 25 gram ball serves as yarn B, used doubled throughout the pattern for the colorwork section. Working this delicate yarn doubled adds substance and ensures the Fair Isle pattern displays clearly.

Needles: The pattern requires two sets of double-pointed needles to accommodate gauge changes:

• Set of 4 double-pointed needles in 3¾mm (US size 5) for the ribbed cuff section
• Set of 4 double-pointed needles in 4mm (US size 6) for the main patterned body and crown shaping

Double-pointed needles enable seamless in-the-round construction, eliminating the need for seaming and creating a continuous, tubular fabric.

Gauge and Sizing

The pattern specifies a tension of 24 stitches and 25 rows to 10 centimeters, measured over patterned stockinette stitch using 4mm (US 6) needles. Achieving correct gauge is essential for proper hat fit and is worked over the Fair Isle patterned section.

Pattern Structure

The hat begins with 100 cast-on stitches distributed evenly across three of four double-pointed needles. After 11 centimeters of K2, P2 ribbing, the needle size increases and the 27-round Fair Isle chart is introduced. Following the colorwork section, decreases are worked in structured rounds to shape the crown, progressively reducing from 68 stitches down to 24 stitches before the remaining stitches are pulled tight and secured.