Mixed Media Slouchie Hat in Caron Simply Soft and Simply Soft Collection - Downloadable PDF

Mixed Media Slouchie Hat Knitting Pattern – Caron Simply Soft and Simply Soft Collection

Designed by Marilyn Losee, the Mixed Media Slouchie Hat is a fun and fashionable knitted hat that combines cozy yarn construction with decorative fabric flowers for a truly eye-catching, mixed-media finish. This beginner-level downloadable PDF pattern is available free of charge and is a wonderful introduction to basic hat knitting, shaping techniques, and simple embellishment craft.

What Is Being Made

This pattern produces a slouchy knit hat sized to fit a 21"–22" (53.5–56 cm) head circumference with a finished depth of 12" (30.5 cm). The generous depth gives the hat its characteristic slouchy silhouette, making it a stylish accessory for cooler weather. The hat is topped with handmade five-petal mixed media flowers crafted from lightweight fabric and accented with small beads at the center, adding a dimensional, artisan quality that sets this design apart from a standard knit hat.

Techniques Used

• 1x1 Ribbing: The hat begins with a stretchy ribbed brim worked in 1x1 rib (knit 1, purl 1 alternating), which helps the hat grip the head comfortably. The pattern provides instructions for working this rib both back and forth on straight needles and in the round on circular needles, giving knitters flexibility in their preferred method.
• Double Moss Stitch: The main body of the hat is worked in Double Moss stitch, a classic textured stitch pattern that creates a subtle, attractive surface texture. This stitch adds visual interest and a slightly denser fabric compared to plain Stockinette, contributing to the hat's warmth and structure.
• Crown Shaping with Decreases: The crown is shaped using a series of k2tog (knit two together) decrease rows, systematically reducing stitch counts from 84 stitches down to just 6. This gradual, evenly spaced decrease method creates a smooth, rounded crown. The final stitches are gathered and tied tightly to close the top of the hat.
• Seaming: Because the hat is worked flat on straight needles, a back seam is sewn to join the edges, creating the finished tube shape. Knitters who prefer seamless construction may opt to use a 16" (40.5 cm) circular needle instead.
• Mixed Media Flower Construction: The decorative five-petal flowers are made from lightweight fabric rather than yarn, introducing a textile craft element to the knitting project. Small beads are sewn to the flower centers using a sewing needle and thread, adding sparkle and dimension.
• Finishing: Standard finishing techniques include weaving in ends with a yarn needle and attaching the fabric flowers to the completed hat.

Stitches Used

• Knit (K) and Purl (P) – foundational stitches used throughout
• 1x1 Rib – alternating knit and purl stitches for the stretchy brim
• Double Moss Stitch – a four-row repeat textured stitch for the hat body
• K2tog (Knit Two Together) – a right-leaning decrease used throughout crown shaping
• P2tog (Purl Two Together) – used in the final crown decrease row
• Stockinette Stitch – referenced for gauge measurement purposes

Materials and Yarn

This hat is knitted using Caron Simply Soft and Caron Simply Soft Collection yarns, both in aran/worsted weight. Each skein contains 170 g / 6 oz and approximately 288 m / 315 yards. The pattern calls for five colors:

• Main Color (MC): Caron Simply Soft in Black (9727)
• Contrast C: Caron Simply Soft Collection in Passion (0