Checkered Hat in Caron Simply Soft and Simply Soft Brites - Downloadable PDF

Checkered Hat Knitting Pattern in Caron Simply Soft and Simply Soft Brites — Designed by Liz Adams

This free downloadable PDF knitting pattern by Liz Adams guides knitters through creating a charming Checkered Hat featuring a classic Fair Isle colorwork design. The hat is worked in the round from the brim to the crown and is available in three sizes — Small (Toddler), Medium (Child), and Large (Adult) — making it a versatile project for the whole family. The finished design is topped with a cheerful multicolored pompom, giving it a playful, eye-catching finish.

What Is Being Made

The pattern produces a knitted colorwork hat, sometimes referred to as a tuque, with a folded facing at the lower edge and a shaped crown. The checkered motif is created using a repeating 12-round chart worked in multiple contrasting colors against a dark main color. The result is a bold, graphic hat suitable for toddlers, children, and adults alike.

Sizing and Finished Measurements

• Small: Toddler
• Medium: Child
• Large: Adult

The gauge for this pattern is 18 stitches and 24 rows = 4 inches / 10 cm in Stockinette stitch, which is important to achieve the correct fit across all three sizes.

Yarn and Materials

The pattern calls for Caron Simply Soft and Caron Simply Soft Brites, both worsted/aran weight yarns sold in 170 g / 6 oz skeins (288 m / 315 yds). Four colors are used:

• Main Color (MC): Caron Simply Soft in Black (9727)
• Contrast A: Caron Simply Soft Brites in Watermelon (9604)
• Contrast B: Caron Simply Soft Brites in Blue Mint (9608)
• Contrast C: Caron Simply Soft in Grape (9610)

One skein of each color is sufficient for all sizes. Additional materials include a circular knitting needle (for the body of the hat), double pointed needles (for crown shaping), a stitch marker, a yarn needle for finishing, and a pompom maker or piece of cardboard for creating the decorative pompom.

Techniques Used

• Fair Isle (Stranded) Colorwork: The checkered pattern is achieved using the traditional Fair Isle stranded technique, where the color not currently in use is carried loosely across the wrong side of the work. This creates a double layer of yarn at the colorwork section, adding warmth and structure to the hat.
• Knitting in the Round: The entire hat is worked in the round on circular needles, transitioning to double pointed needles as stitches decrease during crown shaping.
• Crown Shaping with Decreases: Markers are placed evenly around the hat and k2tog decreases are worked every other round to shape the crown smoothly.
• Folded Facing: The lower edge of the hat is finished with a neat folded facing — worked in Stockinette with a purl turning round — which is then stitched to the wrong side for a clean, polished brim.
• Pompom Making: A large multicolored pompom using Contrast A, B, and C is attached to the crown for a fun finishing touch.

Stitches Used

• Stockinette Stitch — the primary stitch used throughout the body of the hat
• Purl stitch — used for the single turning round that creates the folded facing edge
• K2tog (Knit Two Together) — the decrease stitch used during crown shaping
• Chart-based colorwork stitches — following a 12-round repeat chart for the checkered Fair Isle section