Valley Yarns Lancashire Knitting Pattern

Valley Yarns Lancashire Slouch Beanie

What is Being Made

The Valley Yarns Lancashire is a relaxed slouch beanie designed to provide warmth and style during fall and winter months. This hat features a comfortable, slouchy crown that sits loosely on the head while the fitted brim keeps hair in place. The design is available in three sizes—Small, Medium, and Large—with finished brim circumferences ranging from 18 to 22¾ inches and heights from 8¾ to 9¼ inches. The beanie is shown in Navy Tweed and is crafted from Valley Yarns Taconic, a premium blend of 70% Merino Wool and 30% Cashmere with subtle tweed flecks that enhance its visual appeal.

Techniques Used

This hat employs several key knitting techniques that make it an ideal project for advanced beginners looking to expand their skillset. The hat is worked seamlessly in the round, which eliminates the need for seaming and creates a polished, professional finish. Construction follows a bottom-up approach, beginning at the brim and progressing upward to the crown. The pattern incorporates cable work through the Honeycomb stitch pattern used in the rise section, adding visual texture and depth to the design. Transitioning from circular needles to double-pointed needles (dpns) at the crown allows for proper stitch management as the circumference decreases during shaping. The pattern also notes that the slouchy effect can be customized by working additional rounds before crown shaping, allowing knitters to adjust the final drape and depth of the hat.

Stitches Used

The Lancashire beanie combines several fundamental and intermediate stitches to create its distinctive look. The brim is worked in K1/P1 Rib, a classic alternating knit and purl stitch that provides stretch and recovery, ensuring the hat stays securely in place without being uncomfortably tight. The ribbed brim is begun with an Old Norwegian Cast-On, a stretchy cast-on method that allows the edge to expand comfortably when the hat is pulled on and off. The rise of the hat features the Honeycomb pattern, which creates a textured, cable-like appearance with visual interest. The crown is worked in stockinette stitch, the most basic knit stitch pattern, which provides a smooth, clean finish to the top of the hat and allows the slouchy shaping to be clearly visible.

Materials and Tools

The Lancashire beanie requires 2 balls of Valley Yarns Taconic yarn, a luxurious blend of 70% Merino Wool and 30% Cashmere. Each ball contains 50 grams and yields 125 yards, providing sufficient yardage for the completed hat. The yarn features subtle tweed flecks that add depth and visual character to the finished garment. Knitting needles required include a US size 5 (3.75 mm) 16-inch circular needle for the ribbed brim section and a US size 7 (4.5 mm) 16-inch circular needle and double-pointed needles for the rise and crown. Additional notions include stitch markers to indicate the beginning of rounds, a cable needle for working the Honeycomb cable pattern, and a tapestry needle for weaving in yarn ends. The pattern specifies a gauge of 18 stitches and 26 rounds over 4 inches in stockinette stitch with the larger needles when blocked, and 20 stitches and 28 rounds over 4 inches in K1/P1 Rib with the smaller needles when unstretched.