Charm Hat in Berroco Ultra Alpaca - Downloadable PDF

Charm Hat in Berroco Ultra Alpaca – Knitting Pattern Summary

The Charm Hat, designed by Mel Kennelly and published by Berroco, is a knitted beanie worked entirely in the round from the bottom up. Rated Advanced Beginner, this downloadable PDF pattern is an excellent next step for knitters who are comfortable with basic ribbing and ready to explore a more textured, elastic stitch pattern. The finished hat has a beautifully plush, dimensional appearance thanks to the signature Fisherman's Rib construction technique.

What Is Being Made

This pattern produces a classic, cozy knitted hat in three sizes. The finished measurements are approximately (18½, 19½, 20½) inches / (47, 49.5, 52) cm in circumference and (10, 11½, 13) inches / (25.5, 29, 33) cm in height, all measured unstretched. The sample shown is knitted in Size 1 at 18½ inches. Because Fisherman's Rib is inherently stretchy, the hat will comfortably fit a range of head sizes within each size category.

Construction Method

The hat is worked in the round from the bottom up using a 16-inch / 40 cm circular needle. This seamless construction method eliminates the need for seaming and creates a tidy, professional finish. Knitters cast on (74, 78, 82) stitches depending on their chosen size, place a beginning-of-round marker, and begin with a simple setup round of alternating knit and purl stitches before transitioning into the Fisherman's Rib pattern.

Techniques Used

• Knitting in the round – All rounds are worked continuously on a circular needle, which is ideal for hat construction and avoids any wrong-side rows.
• Fisherman's Rib – This is the central technique of the pattern. Unlike standard 1×1 ribbing, Fisherman's Rib creates a much loftier, thicker fabric by working stitches from the row below rather than from the live stitch on the needle. The result closely resembles brioche knitting in appearance and feel, but is executed differently.
• Working into the row below – The two special abbreviations, K1rb (knit one from the row below) and P1rb (purl one from the row below), are the building blocks of this pattern. These techniques require inserting the needle into the stitch of the previous round rather than the current live stitch, producing the characteristic raised, cushioned texture of Fisherman's Rib.

Stitches Used

• 1×1 Ribbing – Used in the setup round to establish the alternating knit-purl foundation before the Fisherman's Rib begins.
• Fisherman's Rib – Worked over an even number of stitches across two repeating rounds. Round 1 works K1rb followed by p1; Round 2 works K1 followed by P1rb. These two rounds are repeated throughout the body of the hat.

Yarn and Materials

The pattern calls for Berroco Ultra Alpaca, a worsted weight yarn sold in 100 g hanks. Only 1 hank is required to complete the hat. The sample is knitted in colorway #62186 Caribbean Mix. Berroco Ultra Alpaca is a popular blend known for its softness, warmth, and slight halo, making it particularly well-suited to a textured stitch like Fisherman's Rib, which benefits from a yarn with good stitch definition and body.

Needles and Notions

• Needles: One 16-inch / 40 cm circular needle in size US 6 / 4 mm, or the size needed to obtain gauge
• Notions: A stitch marker for the beginning of round and a tapestry needle for finishing

Gauge

Gauge for this pattern is 16 stitches and 23 rows = 4 inches / 10 cm in