Valley Yarns Embers Hat Knitting Pattern

Valley Yarns Embers Hat: Knitted Striped Beanie

What Is Being Made

The Embers Hat is a generously sized knitted beanie designed by Kirsten Hipsky. This seamless, bottom-up hat features a finished circumference of 20 inches and a height of 9 inches, making it suitable for a wide range of head sizes. The design combines simple knit and purl stitches to create the visual impression of intricate colorwork through the use of narrow stripes in contrasting yarn colors.

Techniques Used

This hat is worked seamlessly in the round, eliminating the need for seaming and creating a polished, professional finish. The bottom-up construction method begins with casting on stitches and working upward toward the crown, allowing knitters to try on the hat as it progresses. The design incorporates stripe patterning worked in alternating colors to create visual interest without complex colorwork techniques. Crown shaping is achieved through strategic decreases that gradually reduce the stitch count until the remaining stitches are drawn closed.

The pattern notes that while double pointed needles are specified for the crown shaping, alternative methods such as the Magic Loop technique or the 2-Circular Needle method may be substituted based on knitter preference and comfort level.

Stitches Used

• Knit stitch (k): The fundamental stitch that forms the base fabric in stockinette sections
• Purl stitch (p): Used in alternation with knit stitches to create the textured stripe pattern
• Slip, slip, knit decrease (ssk): A left-leaning decrease used for crown shaping
• Slip 1, knit 2 together, pass slipped stitch over (sl1-k2tog-psso): A centered double decrease used during crown reduction rounds

Materials: Yarn and Needles

The Embers Hat requires Valley Yarns Amherst yarn, a luxuriously soft fiber composed of 100% merino wool. The pattern calls for one 50-gram skein (109 yards) each of two colors: Spice (main color) and Red Purple (contrasting color). This yardage is sufficient to complete the entire hat with minimal waste.

Needles required include US size 8 (5.0mm) circular needles in a 16-inch length for working the body of the hat in the round, plus US size 8 double pointed needles for the crown shaping when the circumference becomes too small for circular needles. The pattern specifies that needle size should be adjusted as needed to achieve the correct gauge.

The recommended gauge is 16 stitches and 24 rows over 4 inches in stockinette stitch, which helps ensure the hat will fit properly and drape as intended.

Difficulty Level

This pattern is rated as beginner-friendly, making it an excellent choice for knitters new to hat construction or those seeking a straightforward project. The simple alternating knit and purl pattern requires only basic stitch knowledge, while the seamless, in-the-round construction provides an introduction to circular needle techniques without overwhelming complexity.