Little Orme Hat

Little Orme Hat by Kath Andrews

What is Being Made

The Little Orme Hat is a cosy knitted hat available in three sizes—Small, Medium, and Large—designed to coordinate with the Little Orme Mitts and Cowl collection. This is an intermediate-level knitting project that combines classic ribbed construction with decorative stranded colourwork techniques for a finished hat suitable for various head sizes.

Construction and Techniques

The hat is worked in the round from the bottom up, beginning with a distinctive striped folded ribbed brim. The ribbed brim section features colour changes that create visual interest before the hat transitions into the main body. The construction method uses a brim turn technique, which creates a neat, professional edge where the folded ribbing meets the body of the hat. Following the brim, the pattern progresses into stranded colourwork for the main body and crown shaping, adding decorative patterning and visual depth to the finished garment.

Stitches and Colourwork

This pattern employs ribbed stitches for the brim section, which provides elasticity and a comfortable fit around the head. The primary stitch technique transitions to stranded colourwork (also known as Fair Isle knitting) for the body and crown of the hat. Stranded colourwork involves carrying multiple yarn colours across rows or rounds, creating intricate patterns while maintaining consistent fabric density. The pattern includes a Body of Hat Chart that guides the colourwork placement, and offers customization options: rounds 7-8, 26-27, and 33-34 can be omitted from the Body of Hat Chart if desired, and the Small size can be shortened by omitting the final 7 rounds before the Brim Turn and working only 16 rounds after it instead.

Yarn and Materials

The Little Orme Hat is designed to be worked in 3-ply and 4-ply yarn weights, using the recommended yarn Knit Picks Palette, which is 100% Peruvian Highland Wool at 211 metres per 50 grams. The pattern requires one Main Colour (MC) and three contrast colours (C1, C2, and C3).

• Small size: MC 35g/148m, C1 4g/17m, C2 and C3 as needed
• Medium size: MC 42g/178m, C1 6g/26m, C2 and C3 as needed
• Large size: MC 53g/224m, C1 8g/34m, C2 and C3 as needed

The specific colourways shown in the example are Mist (MC), Forest Heather (C1), Spearmint (C2), and Edamame (C3). The pattern notes that for the Large size, you can work the majority of ribbing after the Brim Turn in any contrast colour to avoid requiring a second ball of the Main Colour yarn.

Difficulty Level

Rated as intermediate, this pattern assumes knitters have experience with basic techniques and are comfortable working in the round, reading charts, and managing multiple yarn colours simultaneously for stranded colourwork.