Stacy Charles Fine Yarns Harley Hat Knitting Pattern

Stacy Charles Fine Yarns Harley Hat

What is Being Made

The Harley Hat is a knitted beanie designed by Rosemary Drysdale, offered as a downloadable PDF pattern from Stacy Charles Fine Yarns. This intermediate-level hat features a one-size construction with a finished circumference of 20 inches (51 cm) and a height of 12 inches (30.5 cm) when the brim is not folded. The hat is suitable for knitters with some experience and produces a classic, wearable accessory that can be customized with an optional pompom.

Techniques Used

The Harley Hat employs several key knitting techniques that define its construction and finishing. The pattern utilizes a provisional cast-on, which allows stitches to be picked up later for seamless joining. The hat is worked flat on straight needles rather than in the round, making it accessible to knitters who prefer flat construction methods. The pattern incorporates the three-needle bind-off technique, a professional method for joining two pieces of knitting together while simultaneously binding off, creating a strong and neat seam. Additionally, the Kitchener stitch (also known as grafting) is used for seamless joining of stitches, resulting in an invisible seam that maintains the continuity of the stitch pattern. These techniques combine to create a seamed construction that produces a polished, finished garment.

Stitches Used

The Harley Hat features a primary stitch pattern called Diagonal Horizontal Rib, which creates visual interest and texture throughout the hat. This stitch pattern alternates between knit and purl rows with strategic increases and decreases. Specifically, the pattern uses make one (m1) increases to add stitches, and knit two together (k2tog) decreases to shape the hat. The Diagonal Horizontal Rib pattern is worked over 8 rows, with alternating sections in two different yarns. Rows 1 and 3 are worked in Yarn A with knit stitches on the right side, while Rows 5 and 7 switch to Yarn B and use purl stitches on the right side. The wrong-side rows (2, 4, 6, and 8) are worked in purl and knit respectively, creating the dimensional ribbed effect. This combination of basic stitches and shaping techniques makes the pattern suitable for intermediate knitters seeking to expand their skills.

Materials and Tools

The Harley Hat requires two complementary yarns from the Stacy Charles Fine Yarns collection. Yarn A is Stacy Charles Fine Yarns TINA, composed of 90% extra fine merino and 10% polyamide, with one ball providing 165 yards (154 meters) at 1.75 ounces (50 grams), in the colorway Y6564 fiesta. Yarn B is Stacy Charles Fine Yarns MARIAH, made of 83% extra fine merino and 17% polyamide, offering 137 yards (127 meters) per ball at 50 grams (1.75 ounces), also in the fiesta colorway (58327). The high merino content in both yarns provides softness, breathability, and excellent drape, while the polyamide blend adds durability and elasticity.

The required tools include US size 8 (5mm) needles for the main knitting, with an additional size 8 needle needed for the three-needle bind-off. A US size H (5mm) crochet hook is used specifically for the provisional cast-on technique. Additional materials include waste yarn for the provisional cast-on, a yarn needle for grafting and seaming, and optionally, a pompom for embellishment. Knitters should take time to check gauge before beginning; the pattern specifies that 18 stitches and 32 rows should measure 4 inches (10 cm) in the Diagonal Horizontal Rib stitch.