Striped Hat Knitting Pattern

Striped Hat in Plymouth Yarn Encore Mega Colorspun

What is Being Made

This project creates an adult-sized knitted striped hat featuring a classic crown construction with a decorative pompon topper. The hat combines two coordinating yarns from Plymouth Yarn's Encore Mega collection to produce an attractive striped effect, with the colorspun variety providing visual interest against the solid gold yarn.

Yarn and Materials

The hat is constructed using Plymouth Yarn Encore Mega yarn in two colorways:

• Encore Mega Colorspun in color 7155 (browns) – 100g ball
• Encore Mega in color 460 (gold) – 100g ball

The Encore Mega line is a bulky-weight yarn that works up quickly, making this an ideal beginner project. A pompon is created from the solid color yarn used in the hat.

Needles and Tools

• 16" circular needle in size US 15
• Set of double-pointed needles in size US 13 or US 15
• 1 stitch marker
• Cardboard (3" piece for pompon wrapping)

Gauge and Sizing

The pattern is worked at a gauge of 2 stitches per 1 inch over stockinette stitch. The finished hat accommodates an adult head size, with the main body measuring 6.5 inches in total length before the crown decreases are worked.

Knitting Techniques Used

This beginner-friendly pattern introduces fundamental knitting techniques suitable for those new to circular knitting:

• Circular knitting: The hat is worked in the round using a circular needle, eliminating the need for seaming and creating a seamless finished garment
• Ribbing: A knit 2, purl 2 (k2-p2) ribbing pattern is used at the brim to create stretch and a fitted edge
• Stockinette stitch: The main body of the hat is worked in stockinette stitch in the round, creating a smooth, classic knit fabric
• Decreasing: Strategic decreases shape the crown, gradually reducing stitches to form the hat's rounded top
• Transitioning between needles: The pattern transitions from circular needles to double-pointed needles as the crown decreases progress and fewer stitches remain

Stitches and Abbreviations

The pattern employs essential knitting abbreviations and stitches:

• Knit (k): The basic knit stitch forming the primary fabric
• Purl (p): Used in the ribbed brim and decorative purl rounds
• Knit 2 together (k2tog): A right-leaning decrease used throughout the crown shaping to reduce stitch count
• Stitch marker (sm): Placed at the beginning of the round to track the start of each circular row

Pattern Construction Details

The hat begins with a cast-on of 40 stitches joined in the round. After a purl round for texture, the ribbed brim is established using k2-p2 ribbing for 6 rounds, which provides elasticity and a professional finished edge. The pattern then alternates between the solid gold yarn and the colorspun yarn to create horizontal stripes, with a knit and purl round in solid color separating the striped sections.

The main stockinette body is worked until reaching 6.5 inches in length. Crown shaping then begins with seven consecutive decrease rounds, each reducing the stitch count by approximately one-eighth. The decreases progress from knitting 6 stitches between decreases down to knitting 2 stitches together on every stitch, creating a smooth, tapered crown.

Pompon Finishing

A traditional pompon is created by wrapping yarn around a 3-inch piece of cardboard approximately 25 times. The wrapped loops are secured with a tied strand, cut open at the opposite end, and fluffed. The pompon is then anchored to the hat's crown using the tie strands and trimmed to the desired finished size, adding a playful, classic finishing touch.

Difficulty Level