Rolling Hills Hat in Schachenmayr Boston - DC1008 - Downloadable PDF

Rolling Hills Hat in Schachenmayr Boston – Free Knitting Pattern (DC1008)

The Rolling Hills Hat is a stylish, chunky knitted beanie designed to fit a head circumference of 51 cm, measured above the ribbed brim. This free downloadable PDF pattern from Schachenmayr is worked in the round and combines a classic ribbed band with textured stitch detailing, making it an engaging project for knitters who want to move beyond basic hats. The finished piece features a striking colour-block and textured design achieved through the use of elongated, deeply inserted stitches worked against a smooth stockinette background.

What Is Being Made

This pattern produces a single knitted hat — a close-fitting beanie with a ribbed lower edge and a textured body. The design is worked in three colours of Schachenmayr original Boston yarn, creating bold colour transitions and a distinctive rolling, wave-like surface texture that gives the hat its name. The hat is suitable for adult head sizes and is constructed entirely in the round from the brim upward, finishing with crown decreases to shape the top.

Yarn and Materials

• Yarn: Schachenmayr original Boston, a chunky weight yarn, used in three colourways:
  • Anthrazit meliert (Fb 00098) — 50 g / 1 ball
  • Pink (Fb 00035) — 50 g / 1 ball
  • Neon Pink (Fb 00136) — 50 g / 1 ball
• Needles: Circular knitting needles, 5.5 mm, 40 cm length (for the ribbed brim)
• Needles: Circular knitting needles, 6 mm, 40 cm length (for the main body)
• Needles: Double-pointed needles (Nadelspiel), 6 mm (for the crown shaping and decreases)
• Notions: 1 stitch marker (Maschenmarkierer)

Techniques Used

This pattern introduces and combines several knitting techniques, making it a rewarding intermediate-level project. Knitters will practise working in the round on both circular and double-pointed needles, managing multiple yarn colours, and executing a specialised textural stitch. The techniques required include:

• Ribbing (Rippenmuster): A classic 1×1 rib — alternating one knit stitch and one purl stitch — forms the stretchy, fitted brim of the hat. This is worked on the smaller 5.5 mm circular needles to ensure a snug, elastic edge.
• Stockinette in the Round (Glatt rechts): The main body sections are worked in smooth stockinette stitch — all stitches knitted on every round — which creates a flat, even fabric that serves as the backdrop for the textured detailing.
• Deeply Inserted Stitch (Tiefer gestochene Masche): This is the signature technique of the Rolling Hills Hat. To work this stitch, the knitter inserts the needle 4 rounds lower than the current working row, draws the yarn through, and places the resulting loop onto the left needle before knitting it together with existing stitches. This elongated stitch pulls the fabric downward, creating the characteristic raised, rolling ridges across the surface of the hat. The pattern specifies working this stitch with either 3 or 1 stitch variations depending on the round.
• Colour Changes: The three colours — anthrazit meliert, pink, and neon pink — are introduced at specific rounds, creating bold horizontal colour bands. Knitters will need to manage yarn joins and carry or cut colours as directed.
• Crown Decreases: As seen in rounds 29–32 worked in neon pink, the pattern uses a combination of the deeply inserted stitch and k2tog (two stitches knitted together) decreases to reduce the stitch count — for example, from a larger count down to 36