Jaunty Cap

Jaunty Cap by Terry Morris

What Is Being Made

The Jaunty Cap is a warm, tweedy newsboy-style cap designed to fit most adults with a finished circumference of 22 inches. This knitted hat features a structured crown with a distinctive seed stitch bill that gives it a classic, jaunty appearance. The design combines practical construction with traditional hat styling, making it suitable for everyday wear and windy conditions.

Knitting Techniques

This intermediate-level knitting project employs several key techniques to achieve its finished structure. The cap is knit in the round, which creates a seamless construction and allows for continuous circular knitting. Short-rows are used strategically in the front section to shape and contour the crown, adding dimension and proper fit to the hat. The flexible ribbed brim is engineered to stay securely on the wearer's head, even during windy conditions, while maintaining comfort for extended wear.

Stitches Used

• 1x1 Ribbing – A knit-one, purl-one repeat worked over an even number of stitches, used for the flexible brim that provides stretch and recovery
• Stockinette Stitch – Created by knitting every round, this smooth stitch forms the main body of the cap and provides a classic knitted appearance
• Seed Stitch – A knit-one, purl-one repeat worked over an odd number of stitches, used to create the textured seed stitch bill that finishes the design
• Make One (M1) – An increase technique used to add stitches during shaping

Materials and Tools

This pattern calls for worsted weight wool yarns, with approximately 200 yards of yarn required for completion. The design is worked with two strands held together, allowing knitters to create a tweedy effect by combining two different colors of single-ply yarn. The sample was knitted using two strands of Falkland Islands Wool in natural colors. Knitters will need US Size 9 (5.5mm) circular needles in a 16-inch length for working in the round, along with matching US Size 9 (5.5mm) double-pointed needles for completing the crown. Additional supplies include a stitch marker and small lengths of smooth cotton yarn to use as markers. The gauge is 4 stitches and 5 rows per inch over stockinette stitch, which is essential for achieving the correct finished size.