Four Winds Hat in Berroco Vintage Chunky - Pv2-10 - Downloadable PDF

Four Winds Hat in Berroco Vintage Chunky – A Detailed Pattern Summary

The Four Winds Hat is a beautifully crafted knitted hat designed by Melissa LaBarre and published by Berroco as part of their Portfolio Vol. 2 collection. Available as a downloadable PDF, this pattern is rated Intermediate in skill level, making it a rewarding project for knitters who have moved beyond the basics and are ready to explore more structured shaping and textural techniques. The hat is a one-size design with finished measurements of approximately 19½" in circumference and 8½" in height, not including the earflaps and pom-pom, giving it a generously cozy fit suited to cold-weather wear.

What Is Being Made

This pattern produces a chunky knit winter hat featuring distinctive earflaps and a fun 3" pom-pom topper. The earflaps add both style and warmth, making this hat a practical and eye-catching accessory. The overall aesthetic is bold and textural, well suited to the thick, squishy nature of chunky-weight yarn. The name Four Winds evokes the hat's cozy, wind-blocking design, particularly through its earflap construction.

Materials Used

• Yarn: 2 hanks of Berroco Vintage Chunky (100 grams each), in colorway #6181 Black Cherry. Berroco Vintage Chunky is a popular blend known for its soft hand, stitch definition, and slight sheen, making it ideal for accessories that need both durability and comfort against the skin.
• Needles: A 16" circular knitting needle, size 10 (6.00 mm) for the main body of the hat, and one set of four double pointed knitting needles (dpns), size 10 (6.00 mm) for working the crown decreases in the round. Needle size should be adjusted as needed to achieve gauge.
• Notions: A cable needle (cn), 2 stitch holders, 1 stitch marker, a tapestry needle for finishing, and a 3" pom-pom maker for creating the signature topper.

Gauge

The pattern calls for a gauge of 14 stitches and 24 rows over 4 inches in Garter Stitch. Achieving the correct gauge is especially important in a hat pattern to ensure the finished circumference fits as intended. Knitters are strongly encouraged to swatch and adjust needle size before casting on.

Techniques and Construction

The Four Winds Hat incorporates several knitting techniques that place it firmly in the intermediate skill category. Understanding each of these methods will help knitters approach the pattern with confidence:

• Knitting in the Round: The main body of the hat is worked on a 16" circular needle, a standard approach for seamless hat construction. As stitches decrease toward the crown, knitters transition to double pointed needles to comfortably manage the smaller stitch count.
• Earflap Construction: The earflaps are a defining feature of this design. They are typically worked flat before joining to work in the round, requiring knitters to be comfortable switching between flat and circular knitting methods. Stitch holders are used to keep earflap stitches live while other sections are worked.
• Cabling: The inclusion of a cable needle in the materials list indicates that the hat features cable stitch patterns. Cables are created by temporarily placing stitches on a cable needle, knitting subsequent stitches, then knitting the held stitches — producing a twisted, rope-like texture that adds visual interest and structure to the fabric.
• Garter Stitch: The gauge is measured in Garter Stitch, which is produced by knitting every row when working flat, or alternating knit and purl rounds when working in the round. Garter stitch creates a ridged, elastic fabric that lies flat and adds a classic textural element to the design.
• Crown Decreases: As is standard in top-down or bottom-up hat construction, the crown is shaped through strategic decrease rounds, drawing the stitches together to close the top of the hat