Seed Rib Hat in Lion Brand Touch of Merino - L80076 - Downloadable PDF

Seed Rib Hat Knitting Pattern in Lion Brand Touch of Merino – Pattern L80076

This free downloadable knitting pattern from Lion Brand Yarn Company guides knitters through creating a stretchy, textured beanie-style hat using Lion Brand Touch of Merino yarn. Designed by LB Design and released in 2018, pattern number L80076 is rated Easy, making it an excellent project for beginner knitters who want to build confidence working in the round while producing a polished, wearable accessory.

About the Finished Hat

The completed hat measures approximately 17 inches (43 cm) in circumference along the lower ribbed edge when unstretched, and about 9½ inches (24 cm) in height. Because the fabric is highly elastic, the hat is designed to fit a wide range of head sizes without requiring multiple size options. The stretchy nature of the stitch pattern means a single construction accommodates most adult wearers comfortably.

Materials and Yarn

The pattern calls for the following materials:

• Lion Brand Touch of Merino (Art. #676) in colorway 150 Oxford Grey – 1 ball required
• Circular knitting needle, size 4 (3.5 mm), 16 inches (40.5 cm) long
• Double pointed knitting needles (DPNs), size 4 (3.5 mm), set of 5
• Lion Brand stitch markers
• Lion Brand large-eyed blunt needle for finishing

Lion Brand Touch of Merino is a 3-ply lightweight yarn that blends the softness of merino wool with durability, making it well-suited for accessories worn close to the skin such as hats. Its smooth, consistent twist helps stitch definition show clearly, which is particularly important for a pattern that relies on the visual contrast between knit and purl stitches to create its textured effect.

Gauge

The recommended gauge is 28 stitches over approximately 4 inches (10 cm) worked over the Rib pattern. Checking gauge before beginning is strongly advised, as the fit of the hat depends on achieving the correct stitch density, especially given that the finished circumference is intended to stretch significantly over the head.

Construction Method

The hat is worked entirely in the round, in one piece, beginning at the lower edge and progressing upward to the crown. Knitters cast on 120 stitches onto the circular needle and join to work in the round, taking care not to twist the stitches — a common beginner pitfall when working circular knitting. A stitch marker is placed at the beginning of the round and slipped on every subsequent round to track progress.

As the crown decreases reduce the stitch count, knitters transition from the 16-inch circular needle to the set of double pointed needles. This switch is a standard technique in top-down or bottom-up hat construction and gives beginners a practical introduction to working with DPNs in a low-pressure context.

Stitches and Techniques Used

The hat features two distinct stitch sections that give it both structure and visual interest:

• k1, p1 Rib (Ribbing) – The lower edge of the hat is worked in a classic knit 1, purl 1 rib for approximately 1½ inches (4 cm). This ribbing creates the snug, stretchy band that sits at the brim and helps the hat grip the head securely.
• Seed Rib – The body of the hat transitions into a Seed Rib pattern, which alternates sections of 2 stitches worked in Stockinette stitch (knit every round) with 3 stitches worked in Seed stitch. Seed stitch is created by alternating knit and purl stitches and then reversing that arrangement on the following round, producing a bumpy, non-curling fabric with a handcrafted, artisanal appearance. The combination of smooth Stockinette columns alongside textured Seed stitch columns gives the hat its distinctive ribbed-yet-dimensional look.
• Crown