Glidden Hat in Blue Sky Fibers Worsted Cotton - 201808 - Downloadable PDF

Glidden Hat by Sara Cookson – Knitting Pattern Summary

The Glidden Hat is a stylish slouch-style knitted hat designed by Sara Cookson as part of the Blue Sky Fibers Traveler Series. This downloadable PDF pattern produces a relaxed, slightly oversized beanie with a soft, breathable finish that makes it a versatile year-round accessory. The pattern is rated Advanced Beginner, making it an ideal next step for knitters who have mastered basic techniques and are ready to work in the round with simple ribbing and shaping.

What Is Being Made

The finished project is a slouch hat with a classic, easygoing silhouette. It features a stretchy ribbed brim that transitions into a fuller, relaxed crown, giving it that characteristic slouchy drape. The pattern is sized as a one-size design with a finished circumference of 19 inches and a finished height of 10½ inches. An optional decorative X accent is included, requiring just 6 yards of a contrast color yarn, adding a subtle personalized detail for knitters who want a little extra flair.

Colorways Featured

The pattern showcases two beautiful color combinations using Blue Sky Fibers Organic Cotton (Worsted):

• Bay Leaf and True Red (Nos. 650 & 641) – shown on the cover
• Plum Dusk and Sleet (Nos. 648 & 635) – shown on the inside

Both combinations highlight the rich, natural tones available in the Blue Sky Fibers Organic Cotton palette, demonstrating how the hat works equally well in bold contrasts or subtle, tonal pairings.

Yarn and Materials

The pattern calls for Blue Sky Fibers Organic Cotton (Worsted), a 100% Certified Organic Cotton yarn sold in 100g/150-yard hanks. Knitters will need 2 hanks of the main color, plus a small amount — approximately 6 yards — of an accent color if the optional X detail is desired. Because this yarn is made from certified organic cotton, it is naturally breathable, soft against the skin, and free from synthetic fibers, making the finished hat comfortable for all seasons.

Required materials include:

• Size US 10 (6.0 mm) 16-inch circular needles – or size needed to obtain gauge
• Size US 9 (5.5 mm) 16-inch circular needles – or size needed to obtain gauge
• A stitch marker to mark the beginning of rounds
• A tapestry needle for weaving in ends

Techniques and Construction

The Glidden Hat is worked entirely in the round on circular needles, which means there are no seams to sew and the knitting progresses continuously from the cast-on edge up to the crown. Working in the round is a fundamental technique in hat knitting, and this pattern is a wonderful introduction to it for advancing beginners.

The construction begins with a cast-on worked on the smaller US 9 circular needle, establishing the ribbed brim. The brim is then worked in 1x1 rib stitch — an alternating pattern of one knit stitch followed by one purl stitch — which creates a firm, elastic edge that hugs the head comfortably. Ribbing is one of the most foundational stitch patterns in knitting, valued for its natural stretch and tidy appearance.

After the brim is complete, knitters switch to the larger US 10 circular needle to work the body of the hat, allowing the fabric to open up and create the characteristic slouchy volume above the brim. The body continues in the established rib pattern, building height before crown shaping begins.

Stitches Used

• Knit stitch (k) – the most basic knitting stitch, forming the smooth "V" surface of the fabric
• Purl stitch (p) –