String Charlotte Hat Knitting Pattern

String Charlotte Hat – Seamless Knit Hat Pattern

What Is Being Made

The Charlotte Hat is a classic, one-size-fits-most knitted hat designed by Whitney Spivey. This seamless hat features a finished circumference of 18 inches (46 cm) and a height of 7 inches (18 cm), making it a versatile accessory suitable for most head sizes. The design is worked in the round from the bottom up, creating a polished, professional finish without visible seams.

Techniques Used

This pattern employs seamless, in-the-round knitting as its primary construction method. The hat is knitted inside out, which allows for a reversible design when ends are woven in carefully. The crown shaping uses strategic decreases worked at regular intervals to gradually reduce stitches and form the hat's tapered crown. The pattern also incorporates a ribbed cuff at the base for a snug, stretchy fit, followed by smooth stockinette stitch for the main body. Knitters transition from smaller to larger needles partway through to adjust fabric density and drape.

Stitches Used

• Knit (K) – The primary stitch forming the stockinette stitch body
• Purl (P) – Used in combination with knit stitches to create the K1, P1 ribbed cuff
• K2tog (knit two together) – A right-leaning decrease used repeatedly throughout the crown shaping rounds to reduce stitch count and create the hat's tapered top
• K1, P1 Rib – An alternating knit and purl pattern worked in the round for the cuff section, providing elasticity and a finished edge
• Stockinette Stitch (St st) – Knit every round to create a smooth, flat fabric for the main body of the hat

Materials and Tools

The Charlotte Hat is designed to be knitted using premium luxury yarn. The pattern calls for String GENEVA, a high-quality blend of 90% cashmere and 10% lambswool. One 50-gram ball (156 yards/143 meters) is required in two coordinating colorways: Pearl (Color A) and Graphite (Color B), allowing for creative color blocking or striping options.

Needle requirements include US 6 (4 mm) 16-inch circular needles for the ribbed cuff section and US 8 (5 mm) 16-inch circular needles for the main body, with the option to switch to US 8 (5 mm) double-pointed needles (dpn) when the stitch count becomes too small for circular needles during crown decreases. Additional finishing supplies include a yarn needle for weaving in ends and an optional pom pom for the crown. The recommended gauge is 18 stitches and a corresponding number of rows over 4 inches (10 cm) in stockinette stitch.

Pattern Summary

Knitters begin by casting on 90 stitches with the smaller circular needle in Color A, then join in the round while taking care not to twist. The first section is worked in K1, P1 ribbing for 1 inch (2.5 cm) from the cast-on edge, establishing a snug cuff. After one knit row, the needles are changed to the larger size, and stockinette stitch is worked until the hat measures 3½ inches (9 cm) from the cast-on edge. The crown shaping then begins with a series of decrease rounds using k2tog, progressively reducing from 90 stitches down to 9 stitches over 17 rounds. Once all stitches are decreased, the yarn is cut, threaded through the remaining stitches, and pulled tight to close the crown. The hat is turned inside out for finishing, ends are woven in carefully to maintain the reversible quality, and an optional pom pom can be attached to the top.