The Apple Picking Hat

The Apple Picking Hat by Deb Buckingham

What Is Being Made

The Apple Picking Hat is a messy bun hat designed by Deb Buckingham for Knit On Designs. This knitted hat features an opening at the crown to accommodate a messy bun or topknot, making it an ideal accessory for casual days or outdoor activities like apple picking. The design combines practicality with style, allowing crafters to create a finished garment that works for both fashion and function.

Craft and Techniques

This is a knitting project classified as a beginner-level pattern, making it accessible to newer knitters while remaining enjoyable for experienced crafters. The pattern is described as easy to read and quick to complete, designed to be worked while relaxing and watching television. The messy bun hat construction involves creating a fitted crown with an intentional opening that allows hair to pass through, a technique that requires basic knitting skills and understanding of shaping.

Stitches and Construction

While specific stitch-by-stitch details are not fully outlined in the provided content, the pattern uses fundamental knitting techniques suitable for beginners. The construction method involves working in the round using circular needles, a common approach for hat knitting that creates seamless, tubular fabric. The pattern may include increases and decreases to shape the crown and create the characteristic messy bun opening.

Materials and Yarn

The Apple Picking Hat is designed to be worked in bulky weight yarn, which allows for quick project completion and creates a warm, textured fabric. The sample shown in the pattern was knit using Yarn Bee Dream Spun, requiring approximately 76 yards of yarn. Crafters will need US 10/6 mm and US 11/8 mm 16-inch circular needles, with an optional set of double-pointed needles (DPNs) in US 10 or 11 size for working the crown if preferred over circular needles. The bulky yarn weight combined with these needle sizes creates a substantial, cozy hat that works up quickly.

Pattern Details

This downloadable PDF pattern is the intellectual property of Knit On Designs and Deb Buckingham. Crafters are welcome to sell finished items they produce from this pattern. The design emphasizes accessibility and enjoyment, encouraging knitters to settle in with their favorite yarn and entertainment while creating a practical, wearable accessory.