Lamplight Hat

Lamplight Hat by Laura Chau

What is Being Made

The Lamplight Hat is an elegant knitted hat designed by Laura Chau, featuring a sophisticated colourwork brocade pattern. This is a versatile accessory that can be styled in two ways: the ribbed brim can be worn down for a slouchier, relaxed appearance, or tucked inside the hat to provide extra warmth around the ears. Available in two sizes—Adult M with a finished circumference of 19.25 inches (48.75 cm) and Adult L with a finished circumference of 22.5 inches (57 cm)—the Lamplight Hat suits a range of head sizes.

Knitting Techniques Used

This advanced-level knitting project employs several sophisticated techniques that elevate it beyond basic hat construction. The hat is worked in the round from the bottom up, a method that creates seamless fabric and allows the knitter to see the colourwork pattern develop as they work. The design incorporates a Latvian Braid, a decorative edge technique that adds visual interest and structural integrity to the hat. The primary focus of the pattern is stranded colourwork, a traditional fair isle technique where two colors of yarn are carried across the back of the work to create the brocade pattern on the front. This method requires careful tension management and attention to color placement to achieve the intended design.

Stitches and Stitch Techniques

The Lamplight Hat uses ribbed knitting for the brim, which provides elasticity and helps the hat stay securely on the head. The ribbed brim is worked on smaller needles to create a tighter gauge, which contributes to the functional fit. The main body of the hat features the colourwork brocade pattern created through stranded knitting, where stitches are formed using two colors in a coordinated pattern. The Latvian Braid technique is incorporated as a decorative and structural element, adding textural detail to the design.

Materials: Yarn and Needles

The Lamplight Hat is designed to be worked in sport weight yarn, a lightweight yarn that creates a refined, drapey fabric suitable for a hat that can be worn in various seasons. The pattern is shown in Madelintosh Pashmina, a luxury yarn blend consisting of 75% merino wool, 15% silk, and 10% cashmere. This blend provides softness, breathability, and a subtle sheen. The yardage requirements are approximately 140–165 yards (128–150 m) for the main color and 160–180 yards (146–165 m) for the contrasting color, depending on size. The sample shown uses Lepidoptera (a soft pink) as the main color and Flour Sack (white) as the contrasting color.

The pattern calls for US 3 / 3.25mm circular needles measuring 16 inches (40 cm) for the ribbed brim, which creates a tighter gauge for the elastic edge. US 4 / 3.5mm circular needles of the same length are used for the main body of the hat. US 4 / 3.5mm double-pointed needles are also required for the crown decreases when the circumference becomes too small for circular needles. Additional notions include stitch markers to indicate the beginning of the round.

Pattern Overview

The construction begins with casting on 108 stitches for the Medium size or 126 stitches for the Large size using the smaller circular needles and the main color yarn. The brim is worked in ribbing to create the characteristic elastic edge. After the ribbed brim section is complete, the knitter switches to the larger needles and begins the main body, incorporating the stranded colourwork brocade pattern and the Latvian Braid detail. The hat is completed with crown decreases worked on double-pointed needles as the number of stitches decreases toward the top. The pattern was technically edited by Alexandra Virgiel and is presented in version 1.0, originally published in 2013.