Shoal + Metton Hat Knitting Pattern

Shoal + Metton in Mode at Rowan Alpaca Haze

What Is Being Made

This downloadable knitting pattern from Mode at Rowan, designed by Quail Studio, features two complementary seamless projects: a cowl and a matching hat. Together, these pieces create a coordinated set suitable for advanced beginner knitters seeking to develop their skills with cable and rib techniques.

The Cowl (Shoal)

The cowl is a seamless, tubular project worked in the round using a 60cm circular needle. It measures 65cm (25½ inches) in circumference and 18cm (7 inches) deep once joined. The cowl showcases a diagonal rib pattern created through cable crossings that shift position across successive rounds, producing a visually dynamic twisted effect.

The Hat (Metton)

The hat is worked flat on straight needles and is designed to fit an average-sized adult woman's head with an approximate circumference of 50cm (19¾ inches). The construction begins with ribbed edging before transitioning to the main stitch pattern. The pattern document indicates shaping increases incorporated into the hat's structure, though the complete shaping sequence extends beyond the provided excerpt.

Techniques Used

• Seamless construction: The cowl is worked in continuous rounds on a circular needle, eliminating the need for seaming
• Cable crossings: The pattern employs 1/1 left purl crosses (1/1 LPC) and 1/1 right purl crosses (1/1 RPC) to create the diagonal rib effect
• Flat knitting: The hat is constructed flat on straight needles before being finished
• Mattress stitch finishing: The cowl requires joining cast-on and cast-off edges using mattress stitch, a technique that creates an invisible seam
• Yarn held double: Both projects use yarn held double throughout, which affects gauge and creates a denser fabric

Stitches Used

• Knit (K): The fundamental stitch used throughout both projects
• Purl (P): Creates the textured rib patterns in both the cowl and hat
• 1/1 Left Purl Cross (1/1 LPC): Slip one stitch to cable needle, hold at front, purl the next stitch, then knit the stitch from the cable needle
• 1/1 Right Purl Cross (1/1 RPC): Slip one stitch to cable needle, hold at back, knit the next stitch, then purl the stitch from the cable needle
• Knit 1, Purl 1 Rib (K1, P1): The foundational rib pattern used in both projects

Materials Required

The pattern calls for Rowan Alpaca Haze yarn, photographed in the colorway Silk 013. The cowl requires 2 balls of 25-gram skeins (50 grams total) when yarn is held double. Needles required include a 5mm (US 8) circular needle measuring 60cm in length for the cowl, and 3.25mm (US 3) and 4mm (US 6) straight needles for the hat. Additional notions include a stitch marker and a cable needle for executing the cable crossings.

Gauge and Tension

The pattern specifies a tension of 17 stitches and 28 rows to 10 centimeters measured over knit 1, purl 1 rib using 5mm (US 8) needles with yarn held double. Achieving accurate gauge is essential for proper fit, particularly for the hat.

Pattern Difficulty

Classified as advanced beginner level, this pattern assumes familiarity with basic knitting techniques including casting on, knit and purl stitches, and working in the round. The primary skill development focuses on cable work through the 1/1 purl crosses and understanding how diagonal rib patterns emerge from shifting cable positions across rounds. The mattress stitch finishing technique adds another intermediate skill to the knitter's repertoire.