Kittiwake

Kittiwake Knit Hat by Stella Ackroyd

What is Being Made

Kittiwake is a downloadable knitting pattern for an adult-sized hat designed by independent designer Stella Ackroyd. This intermediate-level knit hat project is crafted using the top-down circular knitting method, resulting in a finished hat suitable for average adult head sizes.

Knitting Techniques Used

The Kittiwake hat employs several fundamental knitting techniques appropriate for intermediate crafters. The pattern utilizes circular knitting worked in the round using circular needles, which creates seamless fabric and allows for continuous stocking stitch construction. The design incorporates increases and decreases to shape the crown and body of the hat, with specific shaping methods including make one (m1) increases worked by picking up and knitting into the back of the strand between stitches, and slip, slip, knit (ssk) decreases that are worked by slipping two stitches individually, inserting the left needle through them, and knitting both together through the back loops for a neat, left-leaning decrease.

Stitches Used

The Kittiwake pattern is primarily constructed using stocking stitch (stockinette stitch), the fundamental knit fabric created by alternating knit and purl rows. When worked in the round on circular needles, stocking stitch is achieved by knitting every round. The pattern also incorporates knit (K) and purl (P) stitches as the basic building blocks, with pattern repeats (rep) that may include textural or colorwork elements. The tension is worked to 28 stitches and 36 rounds per 10 centimeters (4 inches) measured over stocking stitch, ensuring proper fit and fabric characteristics.

Materials: Yarn and Needles

The Kittiwake hat is designed to be knitted with Gathered Sheep Yarns Shetland 4 ply yarn, a premium worsted-weight yarn in the 3-ply yarn weight category. The main color is Spicy Treat (A) at 1 x 50 grams, with approximately 4 grams of each of five accent shades: The Walnut Tree (B), Dove (C), Baby Walnut (D), Sweet Raspberry (E), and The Olive Tree (F). This color palette suggests a sophisticated, nature-inspired design with warm and cool tones.

The pattern requires three circular needles in graduated sizes to accommodate the decreasing stitch count as the crown is shaped:

• 2.75mm (US 2) circular needle, 40 cm long for the ribbed cuff and initial setup
• 3.25mm (US 3) circular needle, 40 cm long for the main body, used to establish the tension of 28 stitches and 36 rounds per 10 centimeters
• 3.50mm (US 4) circular needle, 40 cm long for potential increases or pattern sections requiring looser gauge
• Set of 3.25mm (US 3) double-pointed needles for the final crown decreases when the stitch count becomes too small for circular needles

This needle progression is typical of top-down hat construction, allowing the knitter to work comfortably from the ribbed brim through the body and into the tapered crown shaping.