Valley Yarns Kelsey Hat Knitting Pattern

Valley Yarns Kelsey Hat

What Is Being Made

The Valley Yarns Kelsey Hat is a seamless, knit-in-the-round beanie designed by Kirsten Hipsky. This intermediate-level hat features decorative knit and purl chevron patterns that wave around the crown, creating a textured, visually striking design. The finished hat measures 20 inches around and 8½ inches tall, making it a standard adult size. A dense pompom is attached to the top for a classic finishing touch.

Techniques Used

This hat is constructed using bottom-up, seamless construction, meaning you begin at the brim and work upward in continuous rounds without seaming pieces together. The pattern is worked in the round using circular needles and double-pointed needles, which eliminates the need for finishing seams and creates a smooth, professional appearance.

The crown shaping employs strategic decreases to taper the hat smoothly toward the top. Key decrease techniques include purl 3 together (p3tog) and slip 1, knit 2 together, pass slipped stitch over (sl1-k2tog-psso), which are worked at specific intervals throughout the crown shaping rounds to create the fitted silhouette.

The hat begins with a knit 1, purl 1 ribbed cuff worked over 1½ inches, which provides stretch and helps the hat stay securely on the head. After the ribbing, a single purl round creates a subtle transition before the main chevron pattern begins.

Stitches Used

• Knit (K) – the fundamental stitch that creates smooth vertical columns
• Purl (P) – the reverse of knit, used to create texture and pattern contrast
• Purl 3 Together (p3tog) – a decrease that combines three purl stitches into one, used during crown shaping
• Slip 1, Knit 2 Together, Pass Slipped Stitch Over (sl1-k2tog-psso) – a centered double decrease that reduces stitches while maintaining pattern symmetry
• Knit 1, Purl 1 Ribbing (K1, P1) – an alternating pattern that creates elasticity and structure in the cuff

The main body of the hat features a repeating six-round chevron pattern (Rounds 1–6) that is worked five times or until the desired length is achieved. This pattern alternates knit and purl stitches in specific sequences to create the characteristic wave-like chevron texture. Once the desired length is reached, the crown shaping rounds (Rounds 7–22) systematically decrease stitches using the techniques mentioned above, gradually reducing from 90 stitches down to 10 stitches.

Materials

The Valley Yarns Kelsey Hat requires 2 skeins of Valley Yarns Peru yarn in the color Lavender Mist. Valley Yarns Peru is composed of 84% Baby Alpaca, 8% Merino Wool, and 8% Nylon, with each skein weighing 50 grams and containing 109 yards. This fiber blend creates a soft, stretchy, and durable fabric ideal for a close-fitting hat.

Needles required include US size 9 (5.50mm) circular needles measuring 16 inches and US size 9 double-pointed needles, or whatever size is needed to achieve the specified gauge. The pattern specifies a gauge of 5 stitches and 7 rounds equal 1 inch when worked in the chevron stitch pattern, which is essential for achieving the correct finished dimensions.