Short Row Hat Knitting Pattern

Short Row Hat Knitting Pattern by Plymouth Yarn

Project Overview

The Gina Short Row Hat is a downloadable knitting pattern designed to create a stretchy, form-fitting hat using the short row shaping technique. This pattern is available free with yarn purchase from Plymouth Yarn and comes in two sizes to fit head circumferences of 20 inches and 22¾ inches, with finished circumferences of 16 inches and 18¾ inches respectively. The hat is engineered to stretch significantly larger than the actual head measurement, providing comfortable wear and flexibility.

Techniques and Construction Method

This pattern employs the short row shaping technique as its primary construction method, which creates the hat's distinctive three-dimensional form without requiring increases or decreases. The short row method works by knitting progressively fewer stitches on each row, then working back across the full stitch count, creating diagonal lines and contoured shaping that naturally molds to the head.

The hat begins with a provisional cast-on using a crochet chain. A temporary chain is crocheted in scrap yarn, and live stitches are picked up along this chain with the main yarn. This method allows the cast-on edge to remain live for later grafting, eliminating a traditional bind-off and creating a seamless join.

The pattern utilizes the wrap and turn (W&t) abbreviation, a specialized short row technique. When executing a wrap and turn, the knitter slips the next stitch from the left needle to the right needle with yarn in front, moves the yarn to the back of the work, slips the stitch back to the left needle, and turns to work in the opposite direction. When returning to knit these wrapped stitches, the wrap is lifted onto the needle and worked together with the stitch using a knit two together through the back loop (k2togtbl), creating a smooth transition without visible holes.

The pattern is repeated five to six times depending on size, building up the hat's length through multiple iterations of the short row sequence. Once the desired length is achieved, the live stitches from the provisional cast-on are placed back onto a needle, and the two ends are joined using the Kitchener stitch (also known as grafting). This seaming method creates an invisible join by working through stitches on two parallel needles, alternating between knit and purl passes to create a seamless connection.

Stitches and Stitch Patterns

The primary stitch used throughout the hat is stockinette stitch (st st), created by alternating knit rows on the right side with purl rows on the wrong side. This creates a smooth, classic fabric with a V-pattern texture on the front and bumpy texture on the back. The pattern specifies that wrong-side rows are knitted entirely, creating the purl bumps characteristic of stockinette when viewed from the right side.

The Kitchener stitch used for the final seam is a specialized grafting technique that mimics the appearance of stockinette stitch, ensuring the join is virtually invisible and maintains the fabric's continuity and stretch.

Materials and Yarn Requirements

The pattern calls for 2 balls of 50-gram yarn in two colors—color 11 and color 4—allowing for creative colorwork or a two-tone design. The total yardage and fiber content depend on the specific yarn chosen, though Plymouth Yarn products are typically available in various fiber blends.

The recommended gauge is 18 stitches and 36 rows over 4 inches in stockinette stitch, which helps determine the final size and drape of the finished hat. Achieving proper gauge is essential for the hat to fit correctly and stretch as intended.

Needles and Tools

The pattern requires US Size 7 (4.5mm) straight knitting needles for the main knitting. Additionally, a Size H (4.5mm) crochet hook is needed to create the provisional cast-on chain in scrap yarn. A tapestry needle is used for picking up stitches from the crochet chain, working the Kitchener stitch to graft the ends together, and finishing any remaining details. Scrap yarn in a contrasting color is essential for the temporary cast-on and should be removed once the live stitches are secured.

Pattern Structure

The pattern is written for the smallest size, with larger size measurements provided in parentheses throughout. When only a single number appears without parentheses, that instruction applies to both sizes. This format allows knitters to easily track which numbers apply to their chosen size while following a single set of instructions.