String Gianna Hat Knitting Pattern

String Gianna Hat: Luxury Cashmere Knit Design

What is Being Made

The Gianna Hat is a classic knitted beanie designed by Lidia Karabinech. This one-size hat features a sophisticated construction with a finished circumference of 20 inches (51 cm) and a height of 11½ inches (29 cm) when unfolded. The design combines comfort with elegance, making it suitable for everyday wear or as a refined accessory.

Construction Techniques

The Gianna Hat is constructed using bottom-up seamless knitting worked in the round, which eliminates the need for seaming and creates a smooth, professional finish. This technique begins with casting on stitches at the ribbed border and progresses upward through the body to the crown. Working in the round ensures consistent stitch tension and creates a tubular fabric that requires minimal finishing.

The hat begins with a ribbed border section measuring 2¾ inches (7 cm), which provides stretch and helps the hat maintain its shape. The body is then worked in stockinette stitch until reaching the appropriate length, followed by a strategic crown shaping sequence that gradually decreases stitches to close the top opening.

Stitches and Shaping Details

The pattern employs two primary stitch patterns:

• 2x2 Rib: Used for the ribbed border section, alternating knit 2 and purl 2 stitches around. This elastic stitch creates the cuff that frames the face and helps the hat stay in place.
• Stockinette Stitch (St st): Forms the main body of the hat, creating a smooth, classic knit fabric with a flat appearance on the right side.

Crown shaping utilizes the s2kp2 stitch, a centered double decrease that slips 2 stitches together as if to knit, knits 1, then passes the 2 slipped stitches over the knit stitch. This technique decreases 2 stitches per repeat and creates a visually balanced crown that tapers smoothly from 68 stitches down to 12 stitches across multiple decrease rounds spaced 2 rounds apart. The decreases are strategically placed to maintain symmetry throughout the shaping process.

Materials and Tools

The Gianna Hat is designed to be knitted with STRING VERONA yarn, a luxurious blend of 95% cashmere and 5% extrafine merino wool. Each ball contains 1.75 ounces (50 grams) and yields 88 yards (80 meters), with 2 balls required to complete the project. The sample shown is worked in color 2208 onyx.

The pattern requires specific needle sizes to achieve proper gauge. A size 10 (6mm) circular needle measuring 16 inches (40 cm) is used for the ribbed border section. The body and crown are worked with a size 10.5 (6.5mm) circular needle of the same length, with matching double-pointed needles (DPN) in size 10.5 (6.5mm) for working the final decrease rounds when stitches become too few for the circular needle.

Additional supplies include stitch markers to denote the beginning of rounds, a yarn needle for weaving in ends, and a pom pom for the crown finish. The pattern specifies a gauge of 14 stitches and 18 rows over 4 inches (10 cm) when worked in stockinette stitch with the larger needles.

Finishing

Once all crown decreases are complete, the remaining 12 stitches are closed by drawing the yarn tail through the live stitches and pulling gently to secure the opening. Yarn ends are woven in neatly, and a pom pom is attached to the crown for a polished, finished appearance.