Snow Castle Hat in Novita Suomivilla - Downloadable PDF

Snow Castle Hat in Novita Suomivilla

What is Being Made

The Lumilinna (Snow Castle) Hat is a knitted winter hat designed by Sari Nordlund. This intermediate-level project creates a fitted, textured hat with a finished circumference of approximately 50 cm (20 inches) when lightly stretched. The hat features a structured crown with decorative gusset decreases that shape the top, making it both functional and visually interesting.

Techniques Used

This knitting project employs several key techniques suitable for intermediate knitters:

• Circular knitting in the round – The hat is constructed using the round method, which creates a seamless garment
• Provisional cast-on – A temporary cast-on method is used and later unraveled to pick up stitches for the ribbing
• Ribbing – A k1, p1 ribbing pattern worked in the round creates the elastic cuff
• Chart reading – The pattern uses two charts (Chart I and Chart II) to guide the textured stitch patterns and shaping
• Gusset decreases – Strategic decreases are worked following Chart II to shape the crown and reduce stitches from 36 to 24 stitches
• Stitch manipulation – Techniques including slipping stitches with yarn in back and front, as well as working yarn-overs, create the textured pattern

Stitches Used

The Snow Castle Hat incorporates the following stitches and stitch techniques:

• Knit stitch (k) – The foundation stitch used throughout
• Purl stitch (p) – Used in ribbing and textured pattern sections
• Slip stitch – Stitches are slipped with yarn held in back or in front to create texture and pattern definition
• Yarn-over (yo) – Creates decorative holes and increases in the textured pattern
• Ribbing pattern – The k1, p1 repeat creates an elastic, stretchy fabric for the hat's lower edge
• Textured pattern from charts – A 36-stitch repeat pattern is worked three times across the hat, with the pattern repeated multiple times vertically to build the hat's height

Materials

The Snow Castle Hat is designed to be worked in Novita Suomivilla, a DK weight yarn. The project requires 100 grams of yarn in the Crevasse colorway, along with scrap yarn for the provisional cast-on method. Two sizes of double-pointed needles are needed: 3 mm (UK 11 / US 2½) needles for the ribbed cuff and 3½ mm (US 4) needles for the main textured sections. Knitters should verify their gauge with the pattern to ensure proper fit, as needle sizes may be adjusted accordingly.

Pattern Overview

The hat begins with a provisional cast-on that is later unraveled. After casting on, knitters work ribbing in the round for 14 cm, establishing the elastic cuff. The pattern then transitions to the larger needles and introduces the textured stitch pattern from Chart I. The 36-stitch repeat is worked three times across the round, and the chart rows are repeated multiple times to achieve the desired height. Chart II introduces the gusset decreases that shape the crown, reducing the stitch count and creating the hat's finished silhouette. This structured approach combines classic hat construction with decorative stitch patterning.