Redwood Holiday Hat in Valley Yarns Superwash DK - Downloadable PDF

Redwood Holiday Hat – Knitting Pattern Summary

The Redwood Holiday Hat is a colorful, winter-inspired children's knitted hat designed by Julie Turjoman and published by Valley Yarns. Available as a downloadable PDF, this intermediate-level pattern is sized for children aged 1–2, 2–4, 4–6, and 6–8 years, making it a versatile seasonal knitting project. The design is worked entirely in the round as a single piece, beginning at the ribbed brim and finishing at the crown, with an optional playful pom pom on top.

Design Overview

The hat takes its name and inspiration from the rich, festive palette of the winter season. Its construction is divided into two visually distinct sections: a ribbed band accented with contrast color stripes at the brim, and a stranded colorwork rise featuring seasonal motifs that give the hat its holiday character. The combination of textured ribbing and graphic colorwork makes this an engaging knit that showcases skill without being overwhelming for an intermediate knitter.

The finished hat measures 17 (18, 19, 20) inches in circumference, designed to fit head circumferences of 17–18, 18–19, 19–20, and 20–21 inches respectively. The sample shown in the pattern is knitted in the 2–4 year size.

Techniques Used

• Stranded colorwork – The rise of the hat features seasonal motifs worked using the stranded, or Fair Isle, method. In stranded knitting, two or more yarn colors are carried across the back of the work, with the non-working yarn floated behind the stitches. This technique requires careful tension management to keep the fabric smooth and elastic.
• Contrast color stripes – The ribbed brim incorporates stripe sequences using the contrast colors, adding visual interest before the colorwork section begins.
• Worked in the round – The entire hat is knitted seamlessly in the round, first on a 16-inch circular needle and then transitioned to double-pointed needles as stitches decrease toward the crown.
• Long-Tail Cast On – The pattern specifies the Long-Tail method for casting on, which creates a neat, stretchy edge well-suited to a ribbed brim.
• Ribbing – The brim is worked in a knit-purl rib pattern on the smallest needle size to ensure a snug, stretchy fit around the child's head.
• Crown shaping and decreases – As the hat tapers toward the top, stitches are decreased in a structured manner, requiring the knitter to transition from circular to double-pointed needles.

Stitches Used

• Knit and purl stitches – The foundational stitches used throughout the ribbed band and stockinette sections.
• Ribbing – Used for the brim to create a flexible, form-fitting edge.
• Stockinette stitch – The body of the hat and colorwork sections are worked in stockinette, which provides a smooth canvas for the stranded motifs to stand out clearly.

Materials

Yarn

The pattern calls for Valley Yarns Valley Superwash DK, a yarn made from 100% Extra Fine Superwash Merino Wool, sold in 50g/137-yard skeins. This soft, easy-care fiber is specifically noted in the pattern for its beautiful stitch definition, which allows the stranded colorwork motifs to appear crisp and well-defined. The superwash treatment makes the finished hat machine washable — a practical advantage for children's accessories.

Three colors are used in the pattern:

• MC (Main Color): 01 Natural – 1 (1, 2, 2) ball(s) depending on size
• CC1: 07 Red – 1 ball
• CC2: 11 Spring Leaf – 1 ball

The combination of Natural, Red, and Spring Leaf creates a classic, festive holiday colorway that is both bold and