Lattice Hat in Rowan Alpaca Soft DK (Eng) - Downloadable PDF

Lattice Hat in Rowan Alpaca Soft DK by Martin Storey – Pattern Summary

The Lattice Hat is a beautifully crafted knitted hat designed by Martin Storey for Rowan, published as a downloadable PDF pattern (reference ZB276-00006-ENP). This is a single-design pattern focused on one finished accessory: a colourwork beanie-style hat featuring a striking lattice motif worked in the round. The pattern is rated as intermediate in skill level, making it an ideal project for knitters who are comfortable with two-colour techniques and working in the round but are looking to develop their stranded colourwork skills further.

What Is Being Made

The finished piece is a knitted hat with a two-colour ribbed brim and a fairisle lattice body. The completed hat measures 50.5 cm (20 inches) in circumference and 26 cm (10¼ inches) in height, making it a well-proportioned adult beanie. The hat is worked entirely in the round from the cast-on edge at the brim up to a neatly gathered crown.

Materials Used

Yarn

• Rowan Alpaca Soft DK is the specified yarn for this pattern, used in two colourways:
• Yarn A – Rainy Day (shade 210): 1 x 50g ball
• Yarn B – Tea (shade 205): 1 x 50g ball

Rowan Alpaca Soft DK is a DK weight yarn with a soft alpaca-blend composition, lending the finished hat a luxuriously lightweight and warm quality. The two chosen shades – a cool grey-toned Rainy Day and a warm neutral Tea – create a subtle, sophisticated contrast that allows the lattice pattern to read clearly without being overly bold.

Needles

• 3¼mm (UK no. 10 / US 3) double-pointed needles (set of 4) or a 3¼mm circular needle no more than 40 cm (16 in) long – used for the two-colour ribbed brim
• 4mm (UK no. 8 / US 6) double-pointed needles (set of 4) – used for the fairisle body of the hat

The use of two different needle sizes is deliberate: the smaller needles create a firm, neat rib at the brim, while the larger needles allow the stranded fairisle fabric to maintain the correct drape and tension without pulling in.

Tension

• 28 sts and 25 rows to 10 cm over two-colour rib using 3¼mm (US 3) needles
• 25 sts and 26 rows to 10 cm over fairisle pattern using 4mm (US 6) needles

Achieving the correct tension is especially important in this pattern because the hat is worked in the round and the two sections – rib and fairisle – each have their own gauge. Knitters are encouraged to swatch carefully in both techniques before casting on.

Techniques Used

Working in the Round

The entire hat is worked in the round using either a set of double-pointed needles or a short circular needle. A stitch marker is placed at the beginning of the round to track progress. Working in the round eliminates the need for seaming and ensures the colourwork pattern is always viewed from the right side, making it easier to follow the chart.

Two-Colour Rib

The brim of the hat is worked in a two-colour rib, specifically a K1 in Yarn A, P1 in Yarn B rib repeated across all stitches. This technique is worked over 10 rounds and creates a visually interesting, elasticated edging that holds the hat snugly in place. Managing two yarns simultaneously in a rib requires careful tension control to prevent the unused yarn from showing through or pulling the fabric.

Fairisle / Stranded Colourwork

The main body