Eskimo hat

Eskimo Hat by Ellen Torunn Kvalheim Andresen

What is Being Made

The Eskimo Hat is a winter knit hat designed by Ellen Torunn Kvalheim Andresen for SISO Designs. This downloadable PDF pattern provides instructions for creating a warm, cozy hat available in two sizes: adult and child. The design features a decorative pom-pom accent and is crafted using a stranded colorwork technique that combines two contrasting yarn colors for visual interest and warmth.

Knitting Techniques Used

This advanced knitting project employs stranded knitting, a colorwork technique where two colors are worked simultaneously to create a patterned fabric. The stranded pattern is described as easy to execute, making it accessible despite the advanced difficulty rating of the overall project. The hat is constructed in the round using circular and double-pointed needles, a standard method for creating seamless cylindrical garments like hats. The pattern includes a chart to guide knitters through the colorwork repeats, and the finished hat is topped with a large pom-pom for added visual appeal and functionality.

Stitches and Construction

The pattern utilizes fundamental knitting stitches worked in stranded colorwork over a gauge of 15 stitches and 17 rows per 10 centimeters in the patterned sections. The hat is worked from the cast-on edge upward to the crown, using double-pointed needles (DPNs) and a circular needle to shape the crown and body. The construction method ensures a seamless fit, and the pom-pom is added as a finishing detail at the top.

Materials and Yarn

• Yarn: Garnstudio Drops Eskimo in chunky and super chunky weight. The pattern calls for two skeins of the main color and one skein of the contrast color. Each skein contains 50 grams (1.76 ounces) and yields 49 meters (54 yards). The pictured example uses color #37 for the main color and color #005 for the contrast color.
• Needles: 6 mm/US 10 double-pointed needles (DPNs) and a 40 cm (15 inch) circular knitting needle, or appropriate needle size to achieve the specified gauge.
• Additional Notions: Darning needle for weaving in ends and a stitch marker for tracking rounds.

Pattern Details

The Eskimo Hat pattern has been professionally tech edited by Katherine Vaughan and test-knitted to ensure accuracy and clarity. The bulky yarn weight significantly reduces knitting time, making this an efficient project despite its advanced classification. The pattern is written for two distinct sizes, allowing both adults and children to enjoy this winter accessory. The inclusion of a stranded pattern chart provides visual guidance for executing the colorwork, and the finished measurements are provided from the cast-on edge (stretched out) to the top of the hat, helping knitters understand the final dimensions before beginning.