Pietra Classico Hat in Red Heart Ora - LM6052-1 - Downloadable PDF

Pietra Classico Hat in Red Heart Ora – Knitting Pattern LM6052-1

The Pietra Classico Hat is a beginner-friendly knitted hat pattern (pattern number LM6052-1) designed by the Italian Collection Design Team and published by Red Heart. This free, downloadable PDF pattern produces a cozy, chunky knit beanie finished with a playful 3-inch pom pom, making it an ideal quick project for new knitters or anyone looking for a fast, satisfying make. The finished hat measures 20½ inches (52 cm) in circumference and 10½ inches (26.5 cm) in height, not including the pom pom, giving it a comfortable, slouch-adjacent fit suitable for adults.

What Is Being Made

This pattern creates a single knitted winter hat worked flat in rows and then seamed, topped with a handmade pom pom. The silhouette is classic and versatile — a timeless beanie shape that suits a wide range of wearers. The colorway featured in the pattern is 5341 Pietra, a rich, earthy red tone from the Red Heart Ora yarn line, lending the hat its name.

Yarn and Materials

• Yarn: Red Heart® Ora™, Art. R183, a super chunky weight yarn available in 3½ oz (100g) balls, each containing approximately 52 yards (48m). The pattern calls for 2 balls in colorway 5341 Pietra.
• Knitting Needles: Susan Bates® knitting needles in 12mm [US 17] size. Because gauge is critical to achieving the correct fit, knitters are encouraged to swatch and adjust needle size as needed.
• Pom Pom Maker: A Susan Bates® Easy Pom Pom Maker in the 3-inch (7.5 cm) diameter size is recommended for creating the finishing pom pom.
• Additional Tools: A yarn needle for seaming and weaving in ends.

Gauge

The pattern specifies a gauge of 7 stitches and 9 rows over 4 inches (10 cm) in Stockinette stitch. Achieving the correct gauge ensures the hat knits up to the intended circumference and height, so checking your gauge with a swatch before casting on is strongly recommended.

Stitches and Techniques Used

• Stockinette Stitch: The body of the hat is worked entirely in Stockinette stitch — knitting on the right side and purling on the wrong side. This is one of the most fundamental knitting stitches, producing a smooth, flat fabric on the knit side and a bumpy texture on the purl side. It is an excellent stitch for beginners to practice.
• Cast On: The hat begins with a cast on of 38 stitches, worked over 20 rows of Stockinette stitch before shaping begins.
• Crown Shaping with Decreases: After the body is complete, the crown is shaped using decrease techniques. The pattern employs k2tog (knit two stitches together) and p2tog (purl two stitches together) to reduce the stitch count and create the rounded top of the hat. These simple decrease methods are beginner-accessible and help introduce new knitters to basic shaping techniques.
• Seaming: Because the hat is worked flat (back and forth in rows rather than in the round), the finished piece is seamed using a yarn needle to join the edges and form the hat's cylindrical shape.
• Pom Pom Making: The finishing touch is a handmade pom pom created with the Susan Bates® Easy Pom Pom Maker and attached to the crown of the hat.

Difficulty Level and Suitability

Rated as Beginner / Easy, this pattern is perfectly suited to those who are just learning to knit or who want a low-stress, high