Semillon Hat Knitting Pattern

Semillon Hat in Berroco Summer Silk

What is Being Made

The Semillon Hat is a knitted hat designed by Alison Green, offering a finished circumference of approximately 21 inches and a height of 8½ inches. This intermediate-level knitting project creates a lightweight, elegant hat suitable for warm weather wear, made from a single ball of Berroco Summer Silk yarn.

Knitting Techniques Used

This pattern employs several intermediate knitting techniques to construct the hat. The design begins with circular knitting in the round, which eliminates the need for seaming and creates a seamless, professional finish. The pattern incorporates charted colorwork or stitch patterns that are worked over multiple rounds to create visual interest in the main body of the hat. Increases are strategically placed during the set-up section to transition from the ribbed cuff to the wider main body. The crown shaping utilizes decreases to gradually reduce stitches and form the top of the hat, with a transition from circular needles to double-pointed needles when the stitch count becomes too small for comfortable circular needle work.

Stitches Used

• Knit through the back loop (K1tbl): Creates a twisted stitch that adds texture and definition, particularly in the ribbed sections
• Purl (P1): Used in alternating pattern with knit stitches to create the ribbed texture of the cuff
• Yarn over (YO): Creates decorative eyelet holes and increases stitches in a visible, intentional manner
• Knit two together (K2tog): A right-leaning decrease used to shape the crown
• Knit two together through the back loop (K2tog-tbl): A left-leaning decrease used during crown shaping for a refined appearance
• Left Twist (LT): A specialty stitch created by skipping one stitch, knitting the next stitch through the back loop, then knitting the skipped stitch, adding textural detail to the pattern
• Charted pattern stitches: The hat features a 13-round charted pattern that is worked twice, then partially repeated, creating the primary visual design element

Materials and Gauge

The Semillon Hat requires 1 ball of Berroco Summer Silk yarn in color #4003 Market (50 grams). The pattern calls for multiple needle sizes to accommodate different sections of the hat. Size 3 (3.25 mm) circular needles measuring 16 inches are used for the initial ribbed cuff section, while size 7 (4.50 mm) circular needles are used for the main body and charted pattern work. A set of four size 7 (4.50 mm) double-pointed needles is required for the final crown shaping when stitches become too few for circular needle work. Additional notions include a stitch marker for tracking round beginnings and a tapestry needle for weaving in yarn ends.

The recommended gauge is 23 stitches and 36 rounds per 4 inches when working the charted pattern on the larger needles. Checking gauge before beginning is emphasized as essential to ensure proper finished measurements and hat fit.

Construction Overview

The hat construction begins with casting on 90 stitches using the smaller circular needle, then working a set-up ribbed section measuring 1¾ inches. Two increase rounds are worked to expand the stitch count to 135 stitches before transitioning to the larger needles and beginning the charted pattern. The main body features the 13-round chart worked twice, followed by a partial repeat of 12 rounds. Crown shaping begins with a transition round, followed by two decrease rounds that rapidly reduce stitches to create the hat's crown point. The pattern is designed to be completed efficiently while maintaining the elegant, lightweight quality characteristic of Berroco Summer Silk yarn.