Rowan Sydney Hat Knitting Pattern

Rowan Sydney Knitted Hat by Martin Storey

What is Being Made

The Rowan Sydney is a classic knitted hat designed by Martin Storey, available in two variations: a striped version and a plain version. This seamless, round-top hat features a ribbed cuff and tapered crown, finished with a pompom at the top. The pattern is offered in two sizes: ladies and mens, making it a versatile accessory for different wearers.

Techniques Used

This hat is constructed using several key knitting techniques that create a polished, professional finish:

• Worked in the round: The entire hat is knitted circularly using double-pointed needles, eliminating the need for seaming and creating a seamless garment
• Bottom-up construction: The hat begins at the ribbed cuff and progresses upward toward the crown, with decreases shaping the top
• Stripes: The striped version alternates between two yarn colors in a two-round stripe pattern, creating visual interest while maintaining structural integrity
• Shaping through decreases: Strategic decreases (K2tog) are worked at regular intervals to gradually taper the crown from the main body down to a small opening at the top

Stitches Used

The Sydney hat employs fundamental knitting stitches that are accessible yet effective:

• Ribbing (K2, P2): The cuff is worked in a two-by-two rib pattern, which creates elasticity and helps the hat sit securely on the head. This ribbed section measures 5 cm in length
• Stockinette stitch (st st): The main body of the hat is worked in stockinette stitch, created by knitting every round. This produces a smooth, classic fabric with a V-shaped pattern on the right side
• Decrease stitches: Knit two together (K2tog) decreases are used throughout the crown shaping to reduce stitches progressively and create the tapered top

Materials and Specifications

The Rowan Sydney is designed to be knitted with Rowan Denim Revive yarn, a durable and versatile fiber choice. For the striped version, the pattern calls for 2 x 50gm balls of yarn A (Silt 210) and 1 x 50gm ball of yarn B (Cream 210). The plain hat version uses 2 x 50gm balls of a single color throughout (photographed in Lipstick 214).

The pattern requires two sets of double-pointed needles: a set of 4 needles in 3¼mm (US 3) size for the ribbed cuff, and a set of 4 needles in 3¾mm (US 5) size for the main body and crown shaping. The tension is established at 22 stitches and 29 rounds to 10 cm measured over stockinette stitch using the 3¾mm needles.

Additional finishing materials include yarn for creating a 5 cm diameter pompom, which is attached to the crown of the completed hat for a traditional, polished appearance.

Pattern Details

The hat begins with a cast-on of 108 stitches for the ladies size or 112 stitches for the mens size. After working the ribbed cuff, stitches are increased slightly (0 stitches for ladies, 2 stitches for mens) to reach the working stitch count of 108 or 114 stitches. The main body is then worked in the chosen stitch pattern—either striped or plain stockinette—until the hat measures 20 cm from the cast-on edge. The crown is then shaped through a series of decrease rounds that reduce the stitch count from 90 to 18 stitches, creating a neat, gathered top that is secured and finished with a pompom.