Spicer Hat in Blue Sky Fibers Woolstok - 201612 - Downloadable PDF

Spicer Hat by Nancy Ekvall – Free Knitting Pattern in Blue Sky Fibers Woolstok

The Spicer Hat is a free, beginner-friendly knitting pattern designed by Nancy Ekvall and published by Blue Sky Fibers as a complimentary downloadable PDF (pattern number 201612). This classic, cozy beanie is knitted in the round using just a single 50-gram hank of Blue Sky Fibers Woolstok, making it an economical and satisfying project that can realistically be completed in a single day. The pattern is available in two length variations — Regular and Long — offering a finished circumference of 19 inches for both sizes, with heights of 8 inches (Regular) and 8½ inches (Long).

What Is Being Made

The Spicer Hat is a seamless, circular-knit beanie suitable for everyday wear. It features a tidy ribbed brim that transitions into a smooth stockinette body, finished with a neatly shaped crown. The colorway shown in the pattern is No. 1316 Spun Gold, though the design lends itself beautifully to the wide range of colors available in the Woolstok line. Its clean, unfussy silhouette makes it a versatile wardrobe staple and an ideal gift knit.

Yarn and Materials

• Yarn: Blue Sky Fibers Woolstok — 100% Fine Highland Wool, 50g/123 yards per hank. Only 1 hank is required for either size.
• Needles: Size 7 (4.5mm) 16-inch circular needle, plus Size 7 (4.5mm) double-pointed needles (or size needed to obtain gauge). The pattern instructs knitters to switch to double-pointed needles as crown decreases reduce the stitch count and stitches no longer fit comfortably on the circular needle.
• Notions: A stitch marker and a tapestry needle for finishing.

Gauge

The pattern calls for a gauge of 20 stitches and 30 rows over 4 inches in Stockinette stitch. Achieving the correct gauge is important for ensuring the hat fits the stated 19-inch circumference, so swatching is recommended even for experienced knitters working with a new yarn.

Techniques and Construction

The Spicer Hat is worked entirely in the round from the brim upward, making it a great introduction to circular knitting for those new to knitting hats. The construction is straightforward and methodical:

• Cast On: 96 stitches are cast on and joined to work in the round, with a stitch marker placed to indicate the beginning of each round.
• Ribbed Brim: The first five rounds are worked in 2x2 ribbing (knit 2, purl 2), creating a stretchy, snug-fitting brim that helps the hat stay in place.
• Stockinette Body: Beginning at round 6, the hat transitions to Stockinette stitch (knit every round when working in the round) and continues until the piece measures 6½ inches (Regular) or 7 inches (Long) from the cast-on edge.
• Crown Shaping: The crown is shaped through a series of 14 decrease rounds using the k2tog (knit two together) decrease. Decreases are worked in a systematic, evenly spaced pattern that reduces the stitch count from 96 down to just 8 stitches, creating a smooth, rounded crown without any visible seams or awkward points.
• Finishing: The yarn tail is threaded through the remaining 8 stitches, pulled tight to close the crown, and woven in with a tapestry needle for a tidy finish.

Stitches Used

• 2x2 Rib (k2, p2) — used for the brim to add elasticity and structure
• Stockinette Stitch