Coast Hat + Snood in Mode at Rowan Alpaca Cotton - Downloadable PDF

Coast Hat + Snood in Mode at Rowan Alpaca Cotton – Pattern Summary

Overview

This downloadable PDF pattern from Quail Studio for Mode at Rowan includes two coordinating accessories: the Coast Hat and a Coast Snood. Both pieces are worked seamlessly in the round and feature colourwork, making this an ideal project for knitters at an intermediate skill level who are ready to explore stranded colourwork techniques in a manageable, small-scale format. The finished set is designed to fit an average-sized adult woman's head, with the hat measuring approximately 48 cm (19 in) in circumference.

Yarn and Materials

Both the hat and snood are knitted in Mode at Rowan Alpaca Cotton, a lightweight DK weight yarn sold in 25 g balls. The pattern calls for four colours across the two projects:

• Colour A – Noir 010 (2 balls) – the main, dominant colour
• Colour B – Feather Grey 013 (1 ball)
• Colour C – Snowflake 014 (1 ball)
• Colour D – Champagne 015 (1 ball)

The Alpaca Cotton blend is a popular choice for accessories because it combines the softness and warmth of alpaca with the stitch definition and lightness of cotton, making the finished hat and snood comfortable against the skin while still providing insulation.

Needles Required

Three needle types are specified to accommodate the different stages of construction:

• 5.5 mm (US 9) circular needle, 40 cm length – used for the ribbed brim section of the hat
• 6.5 mm (US 10½) circular needle, 40 cm length – used for the main colourwork body of the hat and for the snood
• 6.5 mm (US 10½) double-pointed needles – used to work the crown decreases of the hat as the stitch count reduces and a short circular needle becomes impractical

The Coast Hat

The Coast Hat is knitted entirely in the round, beginning with a 2×2 rib brim worked on the smaller 5.5 mm circular needle. The cast-on is 72 stitches, with yarn A held double to create a firm, stretchy foundation. The rib pattern — knit 2, purl 2 — is repeated for approximately 12 cm, giving the brim substantial depth and a snug fit.

After the rib section, a subtle shaping round reduces the stitch count to 70 stitches using K2tog decreases, preparing the fabric for the colourwork section. The needle is then changed to the larger 6.5 mm circular needle, and the knitter begins working from a chart using the Fair Isle (stranded colourwork) technique. In Fair Isle knitting, two or more colours are carried across each round, with the unused colour stranded loosely across the wrong side of the fabric. This creates a double layer of yarn that adds warmth and structure to the finished hat.

As the crown shaping progresses and the stitch count decreases, knitters transition to double-pointed needles to complete the top of the hat comfortably. This is a standard technique for working small circumferences in the round and is a key intermediate skill this pattern helps develop.

The Coast Snood

The Coast Snood is the coordinating companion piece included in the same PDF. Like the hat, it is worked seamlessly in the round on the 6.5 mm circular needle and incorporates the same Fair Isle colourwork chart and colour palette, ensuring the two accessories work beautifully together as a set. A snood — sometimes called a cowl or neck warmer — is a closed-loop tube of fabric worn around the neck and lower face, providing warmth without the bulk of a full scarf.

Techniques and Stitches Used

• Casting on with yarn held double for a