Doggie Hat in Plymouth Encore Worsted - F143

Doggie Hat in Plymouth Encore Worsted – Pattern F143

This free knitting pattern from Plymouth Yarn produces an adorable Doggie Hat sized for children, with two size options designed to fit ages 4–6 and 8–10. The hat features a playful paw print colorwork motif worked in three colors, making it a fun and engaging project for knitters comfortable with basic colorwork techniques. As a downloadable PDF offered free with yarn purchase, it is an excellent companion project for anyone picking up skeins of Plymouth Encore Worsted.

What Is Being Made

The finished object is a children's knitted hat with a whimsical dog-themed paw print design worked across the body of the hat. The construction is worked flat or in the round (the pattern references RS and WS rows), beginning with a structured ribbed and garter stitch brim before transitioning into the colorwork section and a stockinette body. The hat is sized to suit school-age children and makes a charming handmade gift.

Materials Used

• Yarn: Plymouth Encore Worsted — a popular worsted weight yarn well known for its durability, softness, and wide color range, making it ideal for children's accessories.
• Main Color (MC): Encore Worsted in #174 Cranberry
• Contrast Color 1 (CC1): Encore Worsted in #599 Dbl Chocolate
• Contrast Color 2 (CC2): Encore Worsted in #1202 White Chocolate
• Needles: US size 6 and US size 8 needles — two needle sizes are used to create the textural contrast between the brim and the body of the hat.
• Optional: Bobbins, if desired, to carry the contrasting colors neatly during the colorwork section.

Gauge

The pattern calls for a gauge of 20 stitches = 4 inches worked in stockinette stitch on US size 8 needles, or the needle size necessary to obtain gauge. Achieving the correct gauge is important for ensuring the hat fits the intended age range properly, so a swatch is always recommended before casting on.

Techniques Used

• Colorwork / Stranded Knitting: The paw print motif is worked from a chart using the three yarn colors — Cranberry, Dbl Chocolate, and White Chocolate. Stitches are separated by MC stitches between each chart repeat, and bobbins may be used to manage the contrast colors. This style of colorwork introduces knitters to reading a chart and managing multiple yarn strands across a row.
• Needle Size Transitions: The pattern intentionally switches between smaller US 6 needles for the brim section and larger US 8 needles for the body, a common technique used to create a snug, well-fitting brim that does not flare or sag.
• Increasing: A simple increase of 1 or 3 stitches (depending on size) is worked on the final garter stitch row of the brim, bringing the stitch count to 91 or 101 stitches before transitioning to the hat body.
• Chart Reading: Knitters follow a paw print chart, placing 2 MC stitches at the beginning of each row, 2 MC stitches between each chart repeat, and 2–3 MC stitches at the end of the row depending on size. This structured placement ensures the motif is evenly spaced across the hat.

Stitches Used

• Garter Stitch: Worked for 4 rows at both the beginning and end of the brim section. Garter stitch creates a firm, non-curling edge that frames the ribbing neatly and adds a classic textural detail.
• K2, P2 Rib: A 6-row section of two-by-two ribbing is worked between the garter stitch sections of the brim. On right side rows, the pattern repeats K2, P2 across to the last 2 stitches, ending K2. On wrong side rows, stitches are worked as they appear. This ribbing provides elasticity and helps the hat hug the head comfortably.