Spud & Chloe by Blue Sky Fibers Goldfish Hat Knitting

Spud & Chloë by Blue Sky Fibers Goldfish Hat

What Is Being Made

The Goldfish Hat is a knitted beanie designed in three sizes—Small (14" brim), Medium (15" brim), and Large (17" brim)—perfect for everyday wear. This project showcases lace detailing combined with a structured crown, making it an ideal introduction to lace knitting for beginners.

Techniques Used

This hat employs cables and lace work, both executed while working in the round on circular needles. The design features a repeating lace pattern that creates an elegant openwork section, followed by strategic decreases to shape the crown. The cable technique appears in Round 13 of the lace pattern, where stitches are slipped to a double-pointed needle, held in front, and then knitted in a specific sequence to create the characteristic twisted cable effect. The lace pattern uses yarn overs and knit-two-together decreases to form decorative holes in a coordinated manner.

Stitches Used

• Knit (K): The foundational stitch used throughout the stockinette sections and as the primary stitch in lace rounds
• Purl (P): Used in the brim ribbing and as a separator stitch within the lace pattern
• Knit Two Together (K2tog): A right-leaning decrease used both in the lace pattern and extensively during the crown shaping to reduce stitches
• Yarn Over (YO): Creates the openwork holes characteristic of lace, paired with decreases to maintain stitch count
• Slip, Hold, Knit Cable: Slip 3 stitches to a double-pointed needle, hold in front, knit 3 stitches from the main needle, then knit the 3 held stitches to create a cable twist

Pattern Structure

The hat begins with a ribbed brim worked over 15 rounds using a knit-3, purl-1 repeat pattern, which provides elasticity and a finished edge. The brim is cast on using 104, 112, or 128 stitches depending on size. Following the brim, the lace pattern is worked over 14 rounds and repeated three times, creating a substantial lace section. The lace pattern works over a multiple of 8 stitches and includes yarn overs and decreases that progress across the rounds, with a cable twist incorporated in Round 13. After completing the lace repeats, the crown shaping begins with strategic decreases placed at regular intervals. The crown features eight decrease rounds (Rounds 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, and 15), with knit rounds between each decrease round. These decreases gradually reduce the stitch count from 100, 110, or 120 stitches down to 10, 11, or 12 stitches, which are then drawn closed with the yarn end.

Materials and Tools

This project requires Spud & Chloë Fine yarn in the colorway Goldfish #7817, with 1 hank (65 grams/248 yards) sufficient for any size. The yarn is worked on Size 3 (3.25 mm) circular needles measuring 16 inches in length, used for the brim and lace sections, and Size 3 (3.25 mm) double-pointed needles for the crown shaping when the stitch count becomes too small for circular needles. A stitch marker is essential for marking the beginning of each round. The pattern specifies a gauge of 7 stitches per 1 inch in stockinette stitch, which should be verified before beginning to ensure proper fit.

Experience Level

Designated as a beginner-friendly project, this hat is described as a perfect first-time lace project. The lace pattern is straightforward and clearly charted, making it accessible to knitters new to openwork techniques while still providing an introduction to cables and shaping.