Rekaviður

Rekaviður: Icelandic Driftwood Hat by Bristol Ivy

What Is Being Made

Rekaviður is a hand-knitted hat designed by Bristol Ivy, inspired by the Icelandic word for driftwood. This intermediate-level knitting project creates a fitted hat with a finished circumference of 17 inches at the brim (unstretched) and a height of 9½ inches (unstretched), designed to comfortably fit head sizes ranging from 18 to 24 inches. The hat features a structured construction using ribbed patterning and specialized stitch techniques.

Knitting Techniques Used

This pattern employs several fundamental and intermediate knitting techniques essential for creating a well-fitted, professional-looking hat. The construction begins with a Tubular Cast-On, an advanced cast-on method that creates an invisible, seamless edge particularly suited to ribbed patterns. The hat is worked in the round using circular needles and double-pointed needles, allowing for seamless construction from brim to crown. The pattern incorporates Magic Loop as an optional alternative to double-pointed needles for working the crown decreases, offering flexibility in needle choice. Gauge is critical to the fit of this hat, with the pattern requiring 22 stitches and 33 rounds to equal 4 inches in the Button Rib Body Pattern using the largest needles.

Stitches and Stitch Patterns

The Rekaviður hat features a distinctive Button Stitch as its signature element. The Button Stitch is created by inserting the right needle into the space between the third and fourth stitches on the left needle, wrapping yarn as if to make a knit stitch, and drawing the loop back through the fabric to create a textured, dimensional effect. The primary stitch pattern used throughout the hat body is the Button Rib Panel, which alternates knit and purl stitches in a structured sequence. The pattern notation indicates a repeating unit of [K3, p1]—three knit stitches followed by one purl stitch—which creates vertical ribbing with integrated button texture elements. This combination of knit, purl, and button stitches produces both elasticity and visual interest in the finished fabric.

Materials: Yarn and Needles

The pattern calls for Emma yarn by The Woolen Rabbit, a DK-weight yarn composed of 85% Polwarth wool and 15% silk. This blend provides softness, sheen, and durability ideal for a close-fitting hat. The pattern requires 200 yards or approximately 1 skein of yarn; the recommended colorway shown is Birch Beer. The yardage total is 330 yards per 110-gram skein, providing ample material for this project.

Needle requirements include one 16-inch circular needle in US 1 [2.25 mm] (optional, used only if performing the Tubular Cast-On), one 16-inch circular needle in US 3 [3.25 mm], and one 16-inch circular needle in US 6 [4 mm]. Additionally, a set of US 6 [4 mm] double-pointed needles is recommended for working the crown decreases, though Magic Loop on the circular needle provides an alternative. Supplementary notions include a tapestry needle for weaving in ends, a stitch marker for tracking rounds, and waste yarn for any provisional techniques.

Difficulty Level and Knitter Considerations

Classified as an intermediate-level pattern, the Rekaviður hat is suitable for knitters with foundational skills who are ready to tackle more complex stitch patterns and shaping. The Tubular Cast-On, while optional, represents an advanced technique that adds refinement to the finished edge. Familiarity with working in the round, reading stitch patterns, and executing decreases at the crown is assumed. The Button Stitch technique, while not overly difficult, requires careful attention to needle placement and yarn tension to achieve consistent, attractive results throughout the hat.