Marla Hat in Schachenmayr - ENGS11051 - Downloadable PDF

Marla Hat – Free Knitting Pattern by Schachenmayr Designstudio

The Marla Hat is an elegant, intermediate-level knitting pattern designed by the Schachenmayr Designstudio and worked in Schachenmayr Catania, a popular sport-weight cotton yarn. This downloadable PDF pattern is available free of charge and produces a fitted hat sized to suit a head circumference of 52–56 cm, making it a versatile accessory for a wide range of wearers.

About the Design

The Marla Hat is a beautifully structured knitted hat that combines two distinct sections worked separately and then joined together. The result is a refined, textured accessory that showcases both delicate lacework and clean, classic knitting. The hat is finished with a distinctive I-Cord edge and incorporates a 60 cm bias tape or rib ribbon as an interior accent or band, adding a polished, couture-inspired finishing touch.

Construction Method

The hat is worked in two separate parts that are ultimately combined into a single finished piece:

• Part One: The main body of the hat is worked in the round from the bottom cast-on edge upward to the crown, using the lace pattern with cable as charted in the pattern.
• Part Two: Stitches are picked up along the cast-on edge of the first part and worked according to the pattern instructions, concluding with the I-Cord bind-off edge. This two-part approach creates a layered, structured silhouette.

Stitches and Techniques Used

The Marla Hat draws on a combination of classic and decorative knitting techniques, making it a rewarding project for knitters with some experience under their belt:

• Lace Pattern with Cable: The primary stitch pattern is worked from a chart over a repeat of 14 stitches and 16 rounds. All rounds are shown in the chart and are read from right to left, with the 14-stitch repeat worked continuously throughout. Rounds 1–16 are repeated for the full length of the hat body. This lace pattern creates an open, decorative texture that gives the hat its elegant character.
• Stockinette Stitch: Worked in the round by knitting all stitches on every round, stockinette provides smooth, clean sections that contrast beautifully with the lace patterning.
• I-Cord Edge (Bind-Off): This technique is worked on the wrong side of the fabric. Three new stitches are cast on and placed on the left needle; the knitter then works k2, followed by k2tog through the back loop, sliding the stitches back and repeating across. The final three stitches and the first three stitches are joined using Kitchener stitch, creating a seamless, rounded tubular edge that gives the hat a neat, professional finish.
• Decreases – skp (slip, knit, pass slipped stitch over): Used within the lace chart to create the characteristic angled decreases that shape the lace motifs. One stitch is slipped knitwise, the next stitch is knitted, and the slipped stitch is passed over.
• Picking Up Stitches: Required when beginning the second section of the hat along the cast-on edge of the first part, a technique that demands familiarity with reading knitted fabric.
• Kitchener Stitch (Grafting): Used to invisibly join the final stitches of the I-Cord edge, maintaining the tubular appearance without a visible seam.

Materials Required

The pattern is designed specifically for Schachenmayr Catania, a smooth, mercerized cotton yarn in the sport weight category. The recommended colorway is Col. 00248 (leinen), a warm linen tone that suits the refined aesthetic of the design.

• Yarn: Schachenmayr Catania, 50 g balls (approximately 125 m per ball) — 2 balls required (approximately 50 g total; yarn amounts are approximate and may vary by knitter)
• Circular Needle: Size 3.5 mm (US size 4), 40 cm length